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CIVIL ENGINEEEING 
SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



PREPARED BY 



RICHARD I. D. ASHBRIDGE 

Civil Engineer 
member of the american society of civil engineers 



"For -which of you, intending to bniki a tower, 
sittetli not down first, and counteth the cost, 
whether he have suflicient to finish it. Lest haply, 
after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able 
to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 
saying. This man began to build, and was not able 
to finish. "—St. Luke XIV: 28, 29, 30. 



AMERICAN TECHNICAL SOCIETY 

CHICAGO 

1914 






COPYRIGHT, 1914, BT 

AMERICAN TECHNICAL SOCIETY 



COPTRiaHTED IN GREAT BRITAIN 
ALL BIGHTS RESERVED 



DEC -3 1914 

©CI.A388671 




CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Introduction 1 

General instructions 1 

General provisions 9 

Details prior to beginning work 9 

Grouping provisions 9 

Drawings, plans, etc 10 

Measurements, lines, and grades 12 

Fulfilling the contract 13 

Execution of work 13 

Inspection of work ; 15 

Protective and labor clauses 17 

Miscellaneous obligations of contractor 18 

Interference with travel 22 

Damages, claims, alterations, etc 23 

Payment, liens, estimate, bond, etc 25 

Tjrpical illustrative specifications , 29-130 

Railroad grading 29 

Foundations 35 

Masonry 36 

Lumber 51 

Interstate rules for classification and inspection of yel- 
low pine 52 

Terra cotta drain pipe for culverts 53 

Cast-iron pipe culverts 54 

Structural steel for buildings 55 

Steel bridge specifications 56 

Railroad bridges 57 

Highway bridges 71 

Tunnels 72 

Borings for subaqueous tunnel 76 

Pile trestle for an electric railroad across an ocean inlet. . . 76 

Timber and framing 77 

Piling 78 

Treatment of timber with creosote 81 

Iron work for timber trestles 84 



2 CONTENTS 

PAGE 

T3rpical illustrative specifications (continued) 

Track laying 85 

Preparing roadbed 86 

Laying the track 87 

Ballasting 89 

Surfacing 90 

Crossties 90 

Overhead construction of an electric railway 93 

Stone road , 95 

Concrete macadam 100 

Pavements and curbing 102 

Vitrified-clay brick or block paving 104 

Granite block paving on concrete base 105 

Telford paving 107 

Curbing 107 

Granite block paving on sand base 108 

Asphalt paving 109 

Refined asphalt 114 

Wood-block pavement , 120 

Granolithic sidewalk pavement 124 

Brick pavement 125 

Elevated tanks and standpipes 125 

Contract or articles of agreement 131 

Essential elements 131 

Analysis of conditions 134 

Forms of agreement 136 

General form 140 

Railway form 143 

Proposals 160 

Instructions to bidders 161 

Typical proposals 165 

Advertisement 171 

Typical advertisements 173 

Metal work 173 

Bridge work 173 

Macadam roads 174 

Practice in specification and contract writing 175 

General instructions 175 

Typical problems 176 



INTRODUCTION 



IN engineering work, often involving millions of dollars and the 
labor of thousands of men for months, there can be no more 
important matters for the interested parties to consider than exactly 
what is to be done, how it is to be done, and what it is going to 
cost. An important contractual relation, which is to last some- 
times for years, is to be entered into and, to avoid trouble and 
litigation, the ''meeting of the minds'' must be exact on all 
points. On the one hand the interests of the corporation or 
individual for whom the work is to be done must be carefully 
safeguarded; on the other hand, no injustice must be done the 
contractor, nor any provisions introduced or omitted which will 
prevent him from making an honest profit on his work. 

^ The author, who has a wide experience in Civil Engineering 
work, has tried first to develop a logical system of preparing 
specifications, and to present a method of avoiding the mistakes and 
omissions all too common in papers of this kind. He has also 
attempted to cover all types of specifications from railroad work, 
bridges, culverts, excavations, fills, tunnels, and road-beds to coun- 
try and city paving. In addition to typical specifications, the 
proposal, agreement, and contract forms are discussed and illus- 
trated. Advice is also given as to the points to be considered and 
avoided in drawing up a set of specifications and in properly draft- 
ing a contract. Altogether, a thorough presentation of this impor- 
tant subject has been given and it is hoped that this volume will be 
a distinct contribution to engineering literature. 




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CIVIL ENGINEERING SPECIFICA. 
TIONS AND CONTRACTS 



PART I 



INTRODUCTION 

In the preparation for letting a piece of work, the Engineer 
must, by drawing and written description or specification, set 
forth his ideas. He must also make estimates of the cost of the 
work under different methods of construction to determine the 
least expensive method of accomplishing the desired result and, 
if he wishes to let the work, he should make such public announce- 
ments as shall reach the greatest number of desirable contractors. 

In order to insure an early execution of the construction, it is 
his duty to prepare the form of bid or proposal, with the instruc- 
tions to bidders and, later, after attending to the opening of bids, 
he must adopt a form of articles of agreement and fix a bond, 
which, together with the specifications, drawings, and proposal, 
form the contract. These various steps will be treated in the 
following work, in the order of their importance in the contract 
from the Engineer's point of view. 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 

Engineering. Engineering may be defined as the science or 
art of utilizing the forces and materials of Nature with the great- 
est amount of economy. It has been defined epigrammatically 
as "the science or art of making a dollar go the farthest". Engi- 
neering is divided into Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineer- 
ing, Electrical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Hydraulic En- 
gineering, Gas Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Agricultural 
Engineering, etc. According to modern usage. Civil Engineer- 
ing is confined strictly to fixed construction, such as railways, 



2 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

bridges, docks, tunnels, sewers, aqueducts, canals, lighthouses, 
dams, breakwaters, etc. 

The Engineer. It is necessary that the two parties to a con- 
tract for the execution of any important construction work have 
some one in authority to decide all questions in dispute between 
them, and to see that the work is carried out in accordance with 
the requirements of the contract. This person is generally the 
Engineer who designs the work, although in some States, unless 
the Engineer's name is written in the articles of agreement, his 
decisions are not binding. 

It is his duty to take a perfectly neutral position between the 
two parties, and to see that the work is carried out in strict 
accordance with the contract. He should work in harmony with 
the contractors, give all possible aid to accelerating the work, 
' and take pains to secure work and material strictly up to the 
-^standard of requirements in the specifications. Although he is 
usually in the employ of the party for whom the work is being 
done, as the arbitrator his decisions must show perfect impar- 

- tiality, so that both parties will admit their justice ; but in order 
that there may be few questions at issue between the parties to 
the contract, the Engineer must be thoroughly familiar with the 
character of the work he is designing and the quality of the 
materials entering into it. 

Contract. A contract is a written or verbal agreement be- 
"tween two or more parties specifying terms, conditions, etc., 
under which certain obligations are to be discharged. A contract 
for engineering work generally consists of the Advertisement, 
the Proposal (including the notice to bidders), the Drawings, the 
Specifications, the Articles of Agreement (generally spoken of 
as the contract), and the Bond, which is usually required to insure 

- the carrying out of the contract. 

It is the Engineer's duty to see that he obtains the greatest 
amount of the best work for the least expenditure of money. 
Experience has shown that to accomplish this end he should first 
determine the exact character of the structure which is to be 
built and, in addition to the drawings, which are generally neces- 
sary, he should prepare the following: (1) The form of Speci- 
fication; (2) the Agreement; (3) the Proposal, or form of bid, 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 3 

including the notice to bidders; (4) the Advertisement. They 
are given above in the order of their importance to the Engineer 
and Contractor, and in that order they will be treated. 

It is essential that all parts of the contract be prepared care- 
fully in order to avoid misunderstanding. Many disputes are 
avoided by requiring contractors to make their bids on a regular 
form of proposal, furnished by the party for whom the w^ork is 
to be done. In the case of small or unimportant work, the bond 
is often omitted. In some cases drawings are not necessary, and 
in many cases the work, to be done is not advertised, as the work 
may not be of sufficient magnitude to. warrant the expense, and 
as many corporations keep a list of the names of contractors who 
are regularly asked to bid on projected work. Of the above, the 
drawings and the specifications are the most important to the 
Engineer and the Contractor, as they are the guide for both in 
the execution of the work and are constantly in use during con- 
struction; hence, for convenience, the specifications and the 
drawings are often so prepared that they can be readily detached 
from the other components of the contract. 

Drawings. Very few contracts for construction work are 
drawn without plans of some kind. They should be made 
accurately and on a scale large enough to show all details con- 
veniently and clearly. All dimensions and distances should be 
written carefully upon the parts of the detail drawings to which 
they refer, and all dimensions should be checked by a second 
draftsman. The distance to be embraced by the figures should 
be indicated by dotted arrows. The drawings should be so 
accurate and so complete that there can be no question as to the 
intention of the designer even to the smallest detail. In pre- 
paring the specifications, the designer should keep a memoran- 
dum tablet on his table and jot down every thought that may 
be of service. The value of a drawing depends upon its 
accuracy. 

• The sheets should be uniform in size, carefully lettered or 
numbered for reference, and should be clearly and plainly titled. 
They should also show the scale, the date when completed, the 
initials of the draftsman, and the initials of the checking 
draftsman. 



4 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Maps should show a meridian and magnetic variation, if the 
latter be known. 

The Government prohibits the letting of a contract without 
an accompanying plan ; certain city ordinances and charters have 
the same prohibition. The requiring of plans to accompany the 
contract is to assure the competing Contractors that they are 
bidding on the same basis. 

Contracts are frequently drawn for patented or special struc- 
tures, without plans; in such cases, the Contractor furnishes a 
working drawing, subject to the approval of the Engineer, after 
the contract is executed. The specifications for such work are 
usually confined to a general description of the work required 
and a guarantee of results to be obtained by the Contractor, 
without setting forth the detail of construction or method. 
Sometimes plans are tendered by the bidders — thus allowing 
the Engineer to make comparison and choice of the different ideas 
submitted. This method of letting contracts is not recommended, 
but as the various branches of Engineering become more special- 
ized and as most of the leading contracting firms have competent 
engineers who are specialists in their particular line of construc- 
tion, it becomes necessary for the busy Engineer, with a general 
practice, to make use of the specialist in order to keep pace with 
modern construction methods. 

Specifications. The specifications define the exact relations 
between the parties to the contract; they are supplementary to 
the drawings and should be embodied in the contract. They 
are a written description of the work to be performed and should 
show specifically whatever features are not shown on the draw- 
ings. They should define the quality and quantity of materials; 
the methods of construction; the nature of the workmanship; 
the manner of conducting the work; and the general conditions 
and stipulations. 

The specifications must be most carefully drawn, leaving 
nothing to the imagination, as they are the guide to both 
Engineer and Contractor throughout the execution of the work. 
Great care must be taken that no important special and general 
clauses be omitted. They should set forth clearly and with great 
exactness what is to be done. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 5 

The Contractor is supposed to be experienced in the special 
class of construction to be undertaken, and should not be dictated 
to as to methods — except in very special cases — and he should 
be held strictly responsible for results. In some cases the 
Engineer may desire a specially manufactured article or material, 
or a special method to be used in accomplishing a certain result ; 
in which case it is necessary to incorporate the specifically- 
mentioned article and the method of doing the work in the speci- 
fication. If the specified article is inherently unsuitable for the 
purpose intended, or the method required does not accomplish 
the desired result, the Contractor must not be held for the 
results, as he is not free to act according to his own ideas and 
cannot be responsible for the mistakes of the Engineer. Either 
leave the methods and means entirely to the Contractor who is 
held responsible for results, or let the Engineer assume entire 
charge of methods and means and state that the Contractor will 
not be held responsible for results. To attempt to follow both 
courses at the same time is inequitable and will be so found if 
carried into the courts of law. In plain words, the specifications 
should point rather to the finished structure than to the method 
of accomplishing the work. 

General and Specific Clauses or Provisions. Specifications are 
usually divided into general and special clauses or provisions. 
The general clauses are those that are applicable with slight 
variations to almost any important piece of construction work, 
while the special clauses refer to the character of the material, 
the details of construction, the special features and ideas to be 
incorporated, and no details should be spared that would add to 
the clearness of description in every step of the proposed work. 
All clauses should be numbered and properly headed, preferably 
by a marginal note, for convenience of reference. The general 
clauses should be segregated from those of a specific nature, 
thereby avoiding errors of omission. 

General clauses or provisions describe the general relation of 
the parties involved, the time for beginning and completing the 
contract, payment for the work, the Contractor's liability, the 
special duties of the Contractor, inspection, change of plans, 
interpretation of plans, measurements, conduct of the work. 



6 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

mainteuance of completed work, etc. It is advisable for the Engi- 
neer to have a list of the general conditions which are applicable 
to most contracts before him and, upon completion of the rough 
copj'', to check over the clauses to see that all the conditions 
have been included. The writer has a list of over one hundred 
headings that he endeavors to embody in every specification 
drawTi; although it is not necessary to have a special clause for 
each heading, he has found that this is the surest method to 
prevent omissions of necessary clauses. 

Great care must be taken that clauses do not contradict each 
other; that they be not at variance with the plans; and that 
ambiguous description is not introduced. 

Clearness of Statement. The wise and careful Contractor will 
note every detailed provision of a specification, and will bid 
accordingly, expecting to do no more than is required in the 
contract. Hence it is necessary that the Engineer set forth every 
detail fully, clearly, and concisely. Work should be so designed 
and described as to require no alteration in the course of con- 
struction. 

The specification requiring the Contractor to ask the Engineer 
for an explanation of its meaning is not clearly drawn. The 
Engineer must not suppose that the Contractor will take any- 
thing for granted; he must draw his specification in such a 
manner as to cover the w^ork, in general and in particular, in 
every detail. 

It is of the greatest importance that there be no ambiguity 
and no omission of words. The clauses should be couched in the 
simplest language and the sentences should be short and to the 
point. Bad English, careless punctuation, and verbosity are to 
be carefully avoided. The incorrect placing of a comma has 
caused the loss of many thousands of dollars. Write so clearly 
that there will be no occasion to take the specification to court 
to decide what is the "spirit" of the contract; that is, what w-as 
intended by the writer of the contract and what the parties to it 
should understand by it. Repeat words or sentences, if it is found 
that the meaning is thereby made clearer. 

Precision. While it is not always possible to prescribe exact 
quantities, the word ''about" is to be avoided in specification 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 7 

writing. Be precise in all descriptions ; ask for nothing that you 
do not know to be practicable, and be definite and specific in 
every detail. The units of measurement to be employed should 
always be clearly stated. 

Knowledge Required of Engineer. The Engineer must have a 
thorough knowledge of every detail of the work before he 
attempts to describe what the Contractor is to accomplish under 
the specification ; even when understood perfectly by the Engineer, 
it is often very difficult to describe exact requirements. 

Avoidance of Unusual Conditions. Specifications should be so 
drawn that the best class of material and workmanship consistent 
with the amount of money to be expended on the undertaking 
be obtained. Avoid conditions which are unusual and beyond 
the ordinary requirements of good practice, and which are not 
absolutely necessary to the results desired. The Contractor will 
generally bid a figure out of all reasonable proportion, to insure 
himself against loss on work of a character with which he is 
entirely unfamiliar. Remember that Engineering has been 
defined as "the science or art of making a dollar go the farthest". 
Many young engineers are prone to introduce into their work 
some new idea of their own, of doubtful utility, for the sake of 
novelty and self-advertisement, where a more conservative man 
will follow the beaten road of approved practice. 

Materials Employed. The materials of construction should, to 
as great an extent as possible, be those readily found in the local 
markets and in the neighborhood of the work. This does not 
mean, however, that any inferior or unsuitable material may be 
allowed to enter into the work; on the contrary, the most 
approved practice should be required both as to materials and 
workmanship. The Engineer may be sure that he will not get a 
better quality of material than that specified, and will often get a 
poorer one. Be careful in regard to specifying materials of special 
manufacture, as the Engineer must be above the suspicion of 
favoring any particular make or brand. It is wise to set as a 
standard the best brand on the market and then require it, or 
its equal. It is generally best to set forth the requirements or 
tests that a material must fulfill, in preference to naming the 
special manufacture. 



8 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Extra and Additional Work. What constitutes extra and addi- 
tional work is the most frequent cause of controversy between the 
Engineer and the Contractor; therefore, the greatest care should 
be used in specifying what should constitute each. Extra work 
may be defined as work entirely unforeseen at the time of the 
drawing of the contract; while additional w^ork is work of the 
same quality and workmanship as that described in the specifica- 
tion, which can be foreseen but not accurately calculated. The 
proposal should include unit prices for the various items of 
materials and workmanship, w^hich it is thought may be required 
to complete the construction, over and above the w^ork described 
in the specifications, in order that there be no cause for contro- 
versy over the items of additional work. But where there have 
been omissions in the requirements of the specifications; when 
alterations, changes, and additions become necessary; where 
errors have been made in lines or grades ; where new methods or 
materials are experimented with by the Engineer ; where damaged 
work is replaced; or w^here the work has to be extended to 
secure greater strength, durability, or stability, there is fre- 
quently more or less controversy as to just what shall constitute 
extra work under the contract. This trouble can be avoided by 
defining clearly just what work is to be done by the Contractor, 
and by requiring nothing of him beyond the lines of the work so 
defined. 

Dividing Line between Contracts. The dividing line between 
contracts should be very carefully described and, where there 
are several contractors on one piece of work, the exact limits of 
the work to be performed by each one must be set forth most 
carefully. 

The work for each of the several contractors should be 
described under separate headings, care being taken that each 
contractor agree to leave his work in such condition as to work 
no hardship on the one following him. 

Verbal Information to Contractor. A clause in the specifica- 
tion should state that any information, whether verbal or other- 
wise, secured by the Contractor from the Engineer or his assist- 
ants prior to the signing of the contract is not binding, and that 
only the information as shown on the plans, or set forth in the 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 9 

specifications, has bearing on the contract. The specification is, 
and should be stated therein to be, a part of the contract. The 
plans and specifications should give as full information as possible 
as to conditions and difficulties that may be met with, such as 
soundings, borings, character of material, amount of water to be 
encountered, etc. ; and any special difficulties known to the 
Engineer should be noted in the specification, and no information 
of use to the Contractor in making up his bid should be omitted. 
Mistakes in Plans and Specifications. Finally, every precau- 
tion must be taken to prevent mistakes in the plans, and omissions 
or confiicting clauses in the specifications. Every possible check 
against errors should be made use of. When errors are discov- 
ered in the course of the work, no time should be lost in admitting 
them and setting about to rectify them. The principal object is 
to produce a finished piece of work, constructed according to 
the best approved practice, that will be a credit to the Engineer, 
as well as to every one who has had a hand in its construction. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS 

DETAILS PRIOR TO BEGINNING WORK 

Grouping Provisions. There is a great difference of opinion 
as to the proper location of certain general provisions in con- 
tracts. Some place them in the articles of agreement, wjhile 
others place the same clauses in the specification. The writer 
advises keeping the general clauses together as much as pos- 
sible, grouping them so as to indicate their character and 
placing them almost entirely in the specification, making the 
contract as short and concise as possible. The proper grouping 
is very difficult, as many of the clauses might be placed in any of 
several groups. 

In drawing up specifications it is a good practice for the 
Engineer to keep before him a list of general provisions covering 
all cases and, while all the provisions will not apply to any one 
contract, this will be a great aid in preventing omissions. Some 
of the following apply to one class of work only and have been 
grouped under the various headings, all being written as though 
one of the parties to the contract was the ''Company", the other 
the "Contractor". Of course, the wording would be modified 



10 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

in case the work were being done for a municipality or an 
individual. 

Careful Statement of Definitions. To prevent disputes, the 
principal parties to the contract and their representatives should 
be clearly defined; hence the necessity of a clause of the following 
character in most specifications : 

Definitions. The following words and expressions used in this 
contract shall be defined and construed as follows: 

City : The City of 

Director: The Director of the Department of Public Works of 

the City of 

Chief Engineer: The person holding the position or acting in 

the capacity of the Chief Engineer of the 

Company. 

Engineer: The Chief Engineer of the Company, 

or, in his absence, his regularly appointed and authorized 
Assistant Engineer, and Inspectors representing him, 
limited to the special duties intrusted to them and to no 

other employe of the Company. 

Contractor: The individual, parties, firm, or corporation with 
whom or with which the contract is made, or an author- 
ized agent thereof. 

Other words often have to be defined, such as Owner, Pur- 
chaser, Trustee, Board, Directors, President, Treasurer, each of 
which should be clearly defined so that there can be no possible 
question as to its precise use. 

DRAWINGS, PLANS, ETC. 

The following group of clauses relate to drawings, or plans, 
and notes on them : 

Construing Specifications and Plans. To avoid disputes and 
litigation, it must be distinctly understood by the Contractor 
that the Engineer of the Company shall construe the specifica- 
tions and approved plans ; and explain any obscurity therein ; and 
shall have the right to correct any errors or omissions in eitlier 
and decide as to their purpose and intent ; and his decision upon 
any doubtful or disputed point shall be final, conclusive, and 
binding upon the Company and the Contractor. The action of 
such correction shall be in force from the time the Engineer 
gives due notice thereof in writing. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 11 

Plans and Specifications of Equal Force. The approved plans 
and the specifications shall be of equal force and effect and, in 
case of discrepancy between the plans and the specifications, or 
between the plans and the details, or any lack of agreement in 
measurements upon different plans, or different figures upon the 
same plan, they must be submitted to the Engineer for interpreta- 
tion before beginning construction of the work. Dimensions 
shown in figures on the plans shall have preference over the scale. 

General Drawings. The Company will furnish to bidders 
drawings giving all general dimensions and sizes, and such par- 
tially detailed drawings as may be required to cover special 
features. After assigning the contract, such other drawings as 
may, in the judgment of the Engineer, be required, will be fur- 
nished by the Company. The Contractor shall prepare drawings 
for shop work, which shall include all details required to supple- 
ment and complete the general and partially detailed drawings 
furnished by the Company; and he shall submit 3 blueprints 
of each sheet for the approval of the Engineer. After approval, 
if required, additional prints shall be furnished. The approval 
of the Engineer shall in no way relieve the Contractor from 
responsibility for the correctness of all detail drawings before 
going to the shop, nor for the accurate and complete execution 
of the work. 

Work in Accordance with Plans. The work and all its appur- 
tenances shall be built of material, size, and dimensions, on the 
lines, to the depths, and in the manner shown on the plans filed 
in the office of the Company. No deviation from them will be 
allowed unless by permission in writing from the Engineer. 

Record Drawings. The Contractor, upon completion of the 
work, shall furnish 3 complete sets of blueprints on linaura, of 
detail drawings of the machinery and all appurtenances; each 
set shall be neatly bound in cloth for record drawings of the 
work embraced under the contract as a whole. 

Plans and Specifications. The approved plans and a copy of 
the specifications are to be kept constantly at the work by the 
Contractor or his authorized foreman. 

Necessary to Render the Work Complete. If any workman- 
ship or materials be required, which are obviously necessary to 
carry out the full intent and meaning of the plans, details, dia- 
grams, and specifications, although the same may not be either 
directly or indirectly so specifically noted by drawings or speci- 
fications, the Contractor is hereby bound to consider and provide 
for the same in his proposal for the work, as fully as if they 
were so specifically denoted, and shall execute the same without 
charge or claim therefor. . 



12 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Notes upon Drawings. Contractors proposing for any of the 
work under these specifications will be expected to examine all 
the notes upon the plans, which are intended to form a part of 
the specification. No consideration will be given to any claim 
that these notes have been overlooked. 

Verbal Agreements. This contract shall in no wise be affected 
by verbal agreements or inferences from conversations previous 
to or subsequent to its execution. 

MEASUREMENTS, LINES, AND GRADES 

The following paragraphs may be grouped under Measure- 
ments, Lines, and Grades : 

Lines and Grades by Engineer. The work shall be laid out on 
the ground by the Engineer, who shall direct the lines and grades 
that are to be observed, and all marks given by him shall be care- 
fully preserved by the Contractor, who shall provide such stakes, 
forms, and assistance in doing the work as may be demanded 
of him by the Engineer. 

Marks and Stakes to be Preserved. Contractors must care- 
fully preserve bench marks and stakes and, in case of willful or 
careless neglect, they shall be charged whatever the Engineer 
shall consider an equitable amount to cover damages arising 
from such negligence, the same to be deducted from the amount 
due upon the completion of the work. 

Work to Conform to Lines, etc. All construction work shall 
conform to the lines and stakes set out by the Engineer, and any 
increase of labor or material required, due to the neglect of these 
lines and stakes, shall not be estimated or paid for. 

Standard of Measure. All measurements are given on the 
plans and shall be measured in United States standard feet. 
Where vertical dimensions are preceded by the sign -\- or — , 
they refer respectively to above or below an established hori- 
zontal plane called datum, which is feet above (or below) 

mean high water and feet above (or below) the mean low 

water in the at 

Measurements. All quantities shall be determined by measure- 
ments in United States standard feet, made to the prescribed 
lines. No work outside these lines shall be paid for. No con- 
structive conventional measurement will be allowed, any rule or 
custom in the section of the country through which the road 
passes, to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Quantity Estimates. It is distinctly understood by both 
parties to a contract, that the quantities of material of all kinds 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 13 

shown on the plans or in the specifications are merely approxi 
mate, and will not in any manner affect the final settlement 
because of the fact that at the time of drawing up the specifica- 
tions it was impossible to determine them accurately. 

The Company reserves the right to require the use of what- 
ever materials may be necessary for the safe and efficient tem- 
porary and permanent construction of the work; also the right 
to increase or diminish the quantities to the extent found neces- 
sary by the Engineer. 

FULFILLING THE CONTRACT 
EXECUTION OF WORK 

The following clauses are generally grouped under Execution 
of the Work : 

Prosecution of Work. The Contractor shall commence, prose- 
cute, and complete the w^ork in all its parts in the most energetic 
and workmanlike manner, and shall prosecute the work at and. 
from as many different points, at such times, in such parts, and 
with such force of workmen, as the Engineer during the progress 
of the work may determine. 

Should the necessary land or right of way not be procured 
at any place when the Contractor desires to work thereon, he 
shall distribute his forces to such other points as may be desig- 
nated by the Engineer, without any claim for damages for failure 
to procure such land or right of way. 

Delay in Procuring Right of Way or Land. The Company 
shall procure the necessary right of way and lands needed for 
the work to be done under this contract ; but it is agreed and 
understood that, until the said Company shall have procured all 
the right of way or land required for this contract, the Contractor 
shall commence work, or make arrangements for commencing 
work, entirely on such ground as the Engineer may designate. 
The Contractor shall not have any claim for damage or detention 
by reason of delay in procuring titles to lands, but he shall be 
eibtitled to an extension of time on each part of the work on 
which he was prepared to commence, equal to the time lost from 
and after the day when he was so prepared, provided such deten- 
tion shall exceed 10 days. In all such cases, however, the Con- 
tractor shall notify the Engineer in writing when and where he 
desires to commence work. 

Duties of Contractors. Contractors will be required to give 
their personal attention and supervision to the work and will 
not be allowed to sublet the whole or any part of the same with- 



14 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

out the consent of the Company having been given thereto in 
writing. 

Contractors must satisfy themselves by a careful personal 
examination of the nature and location of the work for which 
they bid, of the general form of the surface of the ground, and 
all other matters which can in any way influence their contracts ; 
and no information upon such matters derived from maps, plans, 
profiles, drawings, or specifications, or from the Engineer or his 
Assistants, shall in any way relieve the Contractor from any 
risk, or from fulfilling any of the terms of this agreement. 

Borings. The Company does not guarantee the correctness 
of the borings nor the nature of the materials shown upon the 
plans. The Contractor must assume all risks resulting from any 
differences from the borings found to exist when the construction 
is under vray. 

All loss or damage arising from any unforeseen obstructions 
or difficulties encountered in the prosecution of the work shall be 
sustained by the Contractor. The soundings and borings, and 
the profiles based thereon, are to be taken merely as guides for 
the Contractor in bidding, and must not be construed to relieve 
him from responsibility in determining for himself the nature 
of the materials which will be encountered. 

Care of Materials. The Contractor shall receive, care for, 
and be responsible for all materials purchased by the Company 
and delivered to the said Contractor at the point herein desig- 
nated. In case of loss by fire, flood, breakage, theft, carelessness, 
etc., the Contractor shall make good any loss. 

Note. — This clause is necessary when the Company is supplying part or 
all of the materials of construction, such as spikes, bolts, etc., in track-laying 
contracts; lumber or iron in bridge work, when the contract is for the 
erection of the material only, and parallel cases. 

Materials to be Furnished. The Contractor shall furnish all 
materials required, which shall be in full accordance with these 
specifications and the general and detail drawings, as they may 
be approved by the Engineer, and shall also furnish all labor, 
tools, and machinery necessary and all must be of the kind 
best adapted to the efficient, prompt, and safe execution of the 
work. 

Right of the Company to Employ Additional Men. If at any 
time, in the judgment of the Engineer, the Contractor shall 
neglect to prosecute the work wdth a force sufficient for its com- 
pletion within the time specified, the Company may employ such 
number of working laborers and foremen as, in its opinion, may 
be necessary to insure the completion of the work within the 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 15 

time specified in the contract, at such wages as it may find neces- 
sary or expedient; and may pay all persons so employed, and 
charge all amounts so paid as so much money paid to the Con- 
tractor under this contract. 

Extension of Time. If the Contractor shall not complete the 
work within the time specified in the contract, and the Company 
shall, notwithstanding such failure, permit the Contractor to 
proceed with or complete the work as if such time had not 
elapsed, such permission shall not be deemed a waiver in any 
respect by the Contractor of any forfeiture or liability for dam- 
ages or expense thereby incurred, arising from such noncomple- 
tion of the work within the time specified and covered by the 
''Liquidated Damages" clause of this contract; but such for- 
feiture or liability shall still continue in full force against the 
Contractor as if such permission had not been granted. 

Note. — ^Where no time for completion of the work is given, the work must 
be completed within a reasonable time. 

Twelve o'clock midnight of the day named in the contract as the date of 
completion is the limit of time unless a certain hour has been specifically named. 
Time clauses should state whether Sundays and holidays are excluded from the 
specified period. 

What Prices are to Include. The prices specified in the 
accepted proposal and contract shall include the supply and 
erection, in a good, sound, substantial and workmanlike manner, 
of all dams, flumes, pilings, shorings, sheathing, shafts, forms, 
centering, false works, tramways, machinery, and scaffolding; 
also pumping, labor, workmanship, tools, fuel, and materials 
necessary for both permanent and temporary works, including 
all the items herein mentioned (unless specifically stated other- 
wise) for the prompt completion of the whole work proposed for, 
shown on the drawings, and described in these specifications. 
All materials and workmanship shall be of the best quality 
and description, and the work perfect and complete in all its 
parts. 

Note. — This provision will change, as to the different items included, 
depending on the character of the work; for while the clause is applicable to 
a sewer, or pipe-laying contract, it would not cover the requirements for 
track laying. 

INSPECTION OF WORK 

The following four clauses are grouped under Inspection: 

Inspection During Constniction. The Contractor shall at all 
times afford every facility for inspecting materials and workman- 
ship. Any materials or workmanship not in accordance with 



16 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

the plans and specifications shall be replaced with approved 
material or workmanship, or both, within the time fixed by the 
Engineer; and all rejected materials shall be immediately and 
entirely removed from the site of the work. If, after written 
notice to the Contractor, the rejected materials are not removed 
or the condemned work built anew within the time fixed, the 
Compan}' shall be at liberty to remove the rejected materials 
and supply new materials, or build anew any unapproved work, 
at the expense of the Contractor, and the cost thereof shall be 
deducted from any money which may be due him. 

Nothing in this contract shall be construed as vesting in the 
Contractor any right of propert}^ in the materials used, after they 
have been attached or affixed to the work on the soil; but all 
such materials shall, upon being so attached or affixed, become 
the property of the Company. 

Materials and workmanship may be inspected at any time. 
All structural steel shall bear the Inspector's mark of acceptance. 
The Contractor shall execute the work in the presence of an 
Inspector at all times; work in absence of same shall be subject 
to rejection. 

Final Inspection. The final inspection and acceptance of the 
work will take place after construction; and any inspection and 
acceptance of materials and workmanship at the site of the work, 
foundries, shops, etc., to facilitate the progress of the work, shall 
not prevent rejection of such materials and workmanship there- 
after, if the same be found unsuitable or imperfect. 

Cost of Engineering and Inspection. The cost of engineering 
and inspection, after the expiration of the time agreed upon in 
the contract for the completion of the work, shall be at the 
expense of the Contractor, and such cost shall be deducted 
from the amount due the Contractor at the time for final 
payment. 

Labor Furnished to Inspector. If required, the Contractor 
shall furnish such labor as the Engineer shall deem necessary to 
assist in the inspection of materials to be embodied in the con- 
struction under this contract and to assist in giving lines and 
grades on the work, all free of cost to the Company. 

Note. — This provision is unusual and is used or enforced only in com- 
paratively small contracts, or when it would be unjust to expect the Company 
to keep a corps of engineers and inspectors on work indefinitely to accommo- 
date a Contractor who is in default with his work. On small contracts, 
requiring little or only occasional staking out, or where the work is in remote 
sections, it is customary to get the assistance of some of the Contractor 's 
laborers to drive the stakes, cut brush, etc., to avoid the expense of maintaining 
a large corps constantly on the work. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 17 

PROTECTIVE AND LABOR CLAUSES 

Builders' Insurance. The Contractor will be required to take 
out from time to time, in an approved company, a Builders' 
Insurance Policy covering the value of all materials liable to in- 
jury by fire, incorporated in or brought to the work, and shall 
assign same to the Company. The policy shall be approved as to 
form and amount by the Engineer. 

Freezing Weather. The work shall be carried on in cold 
weather only at such times and in such manner as directed by 
the Engineer. "When work is done during freezing weather, if 
required, the Contractor shall provide proper facilities for heat- 
ing the materials entering into the work and shall thoroughly 
protect the new construction from damage caused by the 
elements, during and after building. Upon the suspension of 
work due to freezing weather, all new work shall be protected 
and the grounds left in good order. 

Competent Men and Discharge for Cause. The Contractor 
shall employ only competent men; and he shall discharge any 
foreman or other employe who shall, in the judgment of the 
Engineer, be unfaithful, unskillful, or remiss in the performance 
of his work, or guilty of riotous, disrespectful, or otherwise 
improper conduct ; and no person so discharged upon this work, 
or any other work done for the Company, shall be employed 
again by the Contractor upon the work to be done under this 
contract without the written consent of the Engineer. The work 
under this specification shall be subject to all federal, state, 
and (or) municipal laws, or regulations, in regard to the employ- 
ment of laborers, workmen, and mechanics and also those laws 
regulating the hours of employment of such employes; and fur- 
ther, before receiving each payment, the Contractor, if required 
by the Engineer, shall furnish an affidavit that such laws have 
been faithfully fulfilled. 

Employment of Labor. The Contractor, in the construction 
of the work, shall give preference in employment to citizens of 
the commonwealth; and in the employment of mechanics and 
laborers, where citizens of the commonwealth are not available, 
shall give preference to citizens of the United States who are not 
citizens of the commonwealth. Persons employed in the per- 
formance of manual labor under this contract shall not be 

required to work more than. hours in each day, 

and hours shall constitute a day's work.* The 

Contractor shall neither directly nor indirectly require as a con- 

* An 8-, 9-, or 10-hour day should be specified, according to local laws and 
circumstances. 



18 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

dition of the employment of any person that the employe shall 
lodge, board, or trade at a particular place or with a particular 
person, but every employe shall lodge, board, and trade where 
and with whom he elects. 

Foreign Corporations. The Contractor, if a foreign corpora- 
tion, shall file with the Company, if so requested, duly authenti- 
cated copies of its charter or certificate of incorporation. 

Note. — It is of the greatest importance that a corporation, attempting 
to do business in a State other than that under whose laws it was incorporated, 
secure a license and certificate to do business in said State as, in many States, 
without such license, the corporation cannot enforce its claims in the courts. 
As the laws differ in every State, it is advisable that the Engineer secure the 
advice of a local attorney at law, of good standing, to advise in regard to the 
legal provisions of the contract. 

MISCELLANEOUS OBLIGATIONS OF CONTRACTOR 

Orders and Instructions. The Contractor must strictly follow, 
without delay, all orders and instructions of the Engineer or his 
authorized assistant, in the prosecution and completion of the 
work, and every part thereof. 

Personal Attention. The Contractor is required to give his 
personal attention to the faithful prosecution of the work, and 
not to sublet or assign the same, without the written consent of 
the Company, but to keep it under his own control; and, in case 
of his absence, to have a competent representative or foreman on 
the work, who shall receive orders and directions from the 
Engineer and Inspector and have the same carried out without 
delay, and who shall have full authority to supply men, material, 
and labor immediately. 

Time of Commencement and Completion. The Contractor 

shall begin work within days from the date of the 

notice given to that effect by the Engineer, and he shall complete 
all the work under this contract in the time specified, which will 
be reckoned from the date of said notice. 

Delays. No charge shall be made by the Contractor for 
hindrance or delay from any cause during the progress of any 
portion of the work embraced in this contract; but such hin- 
drance or delay may entitle him to an extension of time allowed 
for completing the work, sufficient to compensate for the deten- 
tion, to be determined by the Engineer, provided the Contractor 
shall give the Engineer immediate notice, in writing, of the cause 
of the detention. 

A contractor on any one or more of several sections, into 
which the work may be divided, will not be allowed any claim 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 19 

for delay on account of any act of a contractor or contractors 
on a neighboring section or sections. 

Use of Coal under Boilers. The Contractor shall in all cases, 
where steam power is employed in streets, use anthracite coal 
under the boilers for generating steam and, where ordered by 
the Engineer, shall provide electric power for operating all 
power-driven machinery. 

Filling-In of Old Drains. All sewers, culverts, drains, or 
basins met with and rendered unnecessary, or becoming disused 
by the construction of the work herein contemplated, must be 
filled in, and the street or ground over their site must be restored, 
without extra charge. 

Location of Underground Structures. Where existing sewers, 
water or gas mains, electric and other conduits, met with during 
the progress of the work, are shown upon the plans, the locations 
of the structures are intended to be approximate only. The Com- 
pany will not be responsible for any omission upon the plans as to 
the location of such sewers, pipes, or conduits met with in exca- 
vation, nor for any errors in locations due to incomplete or faulty 
records. 

Buildings for Engineer and Inspector. The Contractor shall 
provide at least 120 square feet of floor space in a suitably heated, 
satisfactory building with doors, windows, locks, etc., near the 
work, for the use, when required, of the Engineer and Inspectors 
in charge of the work. Telephone service shall be furnished by 
the Contractor for the use of the Engineer and Inspectors in 
charge. 

Note. — While unnecessary in some cases, it is always advisable to have 
a private room for the Engineer or Inspector where plans and instruments may 
be safely kept. 

Work Day and Night. The work shall be carried on day and 
night, if necessary, to complete within the time specified. 

Pipes and Electric Wires. The Contractor shall take care of 
all pipes and electric wires encountered on the work, see that 
they are properly protected, that they are raised and lowered 
when necessary, and that they are not injured in any way; all 
damage done to such property shall be paid for by the Contractor. 
He shall maintain the flow of drainage, whether on the surface 
or underground. The cost of all such work shall be included in 
the price bid. 

Property of Contractor. Generally, all waste materials exca- 
vated, or removed from within the required limits of the 
excavation, shall be considered the property of the Contractor; 



20 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

excepting private property, bridges, or parts thereof, water and 
gas pipes, which, in case they are not required to be replaced, 
shall be removed to such locality as may be directed by the 
Engineer. The materials excavated shall be reserved for better 
construction, support, and protection of the work when required. 

When the work under this specification extends through 
private property, all excavated material not required for the 
proper construction of the work, and all standing timber, if 
claimed by the owner of the property, shall not be removed from 
the ground. If not claimed by the property owner, the material 
shall be removed and the ground left clean, as required by these 
specifications. 

Examination of Finished Work. The Contractor shall fur- 
nish — if deemed advisable by the Engineer — all necessary facili- 
ties for making an examination of any work already completed. 
If the work is found defective in any respect, the Contractor 
shall defray all expense of such examination and of satisfactory 
reconstruction. If the work is found satisfactory, such expense 
will be allowed for. 

Material Specified. Where materials are called for specifically 
by name of the manufacturer, this specification is intended for a 
standard of style and quality only; but no deviation from or 
substitution for this material will be permitted without written 
permission from the Engineer. 

Risks from Floods, etc. The Contractor shall assume all 
risks from floods and casualties of every description ; all damage 
to grading, bridges, trestlework, sewers, masonry, and all other 
kinds of work not herein specified, from high water, rains, fire, 
or from any cause whatsoever ; and the work so damaged shall be 
replaced at the expense of the Contractor. In case of any such 
accident he shall give immediate notice to the proper authorities. 

Sanitary Regulations. Necessary sanitary conveniences for 
the use of laborers on the work, properly secluded from public 
observation, shall be constructed and maintained by the Con- 
tractor in such a manner and at such points as shall be approved 
by the Engineer, and their use shall be strictly enforced. 

Shanties. The building of shanties or other structures for 
housing the men will be permitted only at such places as the 
Engineer shall approve, and the sanitary condition of the ground 
in or about such shanties or other structures must, at all times, 
be maintained in a manner satisfactory to the Engineer. 

No Spirituous Liquors. The Contractor shall neither permit 
nor suffer the introduction or use of spirituous liquors upon or 
about the works embraced in this contract, or upon any grounds 
occupied by him. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 21 

Roads to be Opened. The Contractor shall, immediately after 
signing the contract for the work under this specification, pro- 
ceed to open and maintain such good and safe roads and paths 
for foot and horse travel, along the whole line of the work herein 
described, as the Engineer may direct; and on portions of the 
work where there are no highways convenient for the wagoning 
of supplies, he shall open and maintain such wagon roads as may 
be directed by the Engineer, who also shall decide what extra 
amount, if any, he shall be entitled to for this work. 

Note. — This clause is applicable only to such classes of work as railroads, 
canals, extensive sewer and pipe-line contracts, and reclamation work. 

Contractor Responsible for Violation of Laws. In all opera- 
tions connected with the work embraced in this contract, the 
Contractor shall be held responsible for any failure to respect, 
adhere to, and comply with all local ordinances, and all state and 
national laws controlling or limiting in any way the actions of 
those engaged upon the work, or affecting the transportation or 
disposition of the materials. He shall place sufficient lights on 
or near the work, and keep them burning from twilight to sun- 
rise ; he shall observe such rules relative to signals and safe- 
guards as the laws, regulations, or ordinances require ; and shall 
also provide watchmen on the work for the protection of the 
public. 

Liability of Contractor. The Contractor shall assume all 
liability for, and indemnify the company against, all loss, cost, 
or damages for or by reason of any liens, claims, or demands for 
materials; all loss from laborers, mechanics, and others; from 
any damages arising from injuries sustained by mechanics, 
laborers, or other persons, by reason of accidents or otherwise ; 
and from damages sustained by depositing materials to public 
injury, or to the injury of any person or corporation (including 
costs and expenses of defense), provided that he be duly notified 
of the bringing of suits in such cases, and be permitted to defend 
the same by his own counsel, if he should so elect. 

Other Work on the Company's Land. The Company reserves 
the right to carry on its construction and other work, outside 
that enumerated in this specification, at the same time that the 
Contractor is prosecuting the work under these specifications; 
and its Engineer shall at all times be authorized to permit others 
to pass over or haul any materials over the Company's land, and 
perform work thereon, having at all times due regard to the fact 
that such authority given to him shall not seriously interfere 
with or impede the work of the Contractor. 



22 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Cleaning up Debris. The Contractor shall remove all false- 
work, piling, and otiier unsightly material and obstructions, all 
debris and surplus materials from the site of the work, the right 
of way, adjacent properties, highways, and thoroughfares as each 
piece of work is completed. Channels of streams, public and 
private roads, and streets must be left in as good order as previous 
to the commencement of the work, and in a condition satisfactory 
to the Engineer and proper authorities. 

INTERFERENCE WITH TRAVEL, ETC. 

Obstruction to Travel. The Contractor shall conduct his 
work in such manner as neither to obstruct traffic on any rail- 
road, highway, or thoroughfare, on land or water, nor interfere 
with, nor obstruct the use of private property, or wagon entrances, 
or the work of other contractors employed at the site of the work. 
In case of accident or claim for damages, due to the Contractor's 
neglect in these respects, he will be held strictly responsible for 
any such claim therefor. 

Interference with Traffic. When work is to be done upon or 
adjacent to a railroad, the Contractor shall so prosecute his work 
as to interfere as little as possible with the traffic of such rail- 
road; and all work that may affect the safety of the traffic of the 
same shall be subject to the direction of the superintendent of 
the railroad company upon v/hich, or adjacent to which, the work 
is being carried out. 

Where the work under this contract is crossed by public or 
private roads, the Contractor shall provide and maintain a safe 
road for traffic, and the work shall be carried on in such a manner 
as not to obstruct or block travel. Where directed by the 
Engineer, temporary crossings shall also be provided. All 
material excavated or delivered shall be so placed as not to inter- 
fere with traffic. 

Watchmen and River Signals. The Contractor shall provide 
at his own expense the necessary watchmen, signals, and lights, 
and must observe the local laws of the distric;t in protecting the 
public against all injury and damage. He shall conform to all 
the rules and laws governing navigation in the waters crossed by 
structures specified in this contract, and shall notify the proper 
authorities of the location of, or change in position of, proposed 
structures and plant in said waters, and shall establish and main- 
tain' the necessary lights, fog signals, etc., upon structures in 
course of construction, and upon his plant. In case of any damage 
resulting from neglect to keep and maintain suitable lights and 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 23 

signals, or from mistake in signals, it must be promptly repaired i 

at the expense of the Contractor. 

Railroad Crossings. Where the work is to be constructed 
under the tracks of a steam railroad, the Contractor will be 
required to make satisfactory arrangements with the railroad 
company for the support of its tracks. 

Water and Gas Pipes — Drainage. The Contractor is required I 

to sling, shore up, and secure in their places all water and gas i 

pipes and electrical conduits, or other underground structures 
encountered, without injury; and to provide for and maintain 
the flow of water, gas, electricity, drainage, and watercourses, 
whether on the surface or underground, which may be inter- 
cepted or interrupted during and by the progress of the work. 
Where the location of such pipes, drains, etc., has to be changed 
on account of the new construction or its appurtenances, the 
Contractor shall bear all expenses attending such changes. 

Restoring Street and Road Surfaces. All road surfaces, side 
walks, and paving, disturbed by the work herein described, shall 
be restored to their original condition upon the completion of 
the work. 

DAMAGES, CLAIMS, ALTERATIONS, ETC. 

Damage to Persons and Property, Patents, etc. The Con- 
tractor shall be responsible for all damage to persons and to 
public and private property; for trespassing, or for any other 
offense committed by his workmen or others in his employ; for 
damage by explosives, fires, or any other causes incident to the 
conduct of the work. Any damage resulting from neglect of 
precautionary provisions by the Contractor or his employes, shall 
be paid for by the Contractor and, if necessary, the payments | 

may be withheld, at the option of the Engineer, until such damage 
is satisfactorily settled. The intention of the contract is that the 
Company shall not be held responsible for any claims or losses 
incurred through the construction of the work herein described. 

Suits, Claims, Patents. The Contractor shall indemnify the 
Company from all suits and actions of every nature and descrip- 
tion brought against the said Company for, and on account of, 
the use of any patents or infringements of patents in connection 
with this contract, or for any damages or injuries received and 
sustained by any party or parties in the performance of the work 
under this agreement. 

Forfeiture for Overtime — Liquidated Damages. It is ex- 
pressly agreed that time is of the essence of this contract, and the 
Contractor agrees that the Engineer is authorized to deduct and 



24 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

retain permanently out of the moneys which may be due or 
become due the said Contractor under this contract, the sum 

of dollars per day as liquidated damages, 

and not as a penalty, for each and every day that the work 
herein described remains uncompleted beyond the time stipulated. 

Note. — This claim is seldom enforced as the Company may have to prove 
that it has been damaged to the amount specified and that such damage is 
entirely due to the delay of the Contractor in completing his work. Of course, 
tie sympathy of the Engineer is often with the Contractor who is behind 
with his work, through no fault of his, and the sympathy of the jury is 
generally with the Contractor and workingman, as against the party with 
money, be it an individual or a corporation. 

Note. — When the penalty for the noncompletion of work on time is pro- 
vided in the contract, the amount of same may be recovered from the Con- 
tractor by legal process; but if the Contractor is delayed by the Company at 
any time during the progress of the work, the penalty cannot be enforced by 
the Company. 

Should the Company order extra or additional work, for 
which extra time is allowed, it does not excuse the Contractor 
from completing the work on time nor from making the payment 
for delay. 

Extra Work. The Contractor shall do any extra work, not 
herein otherwise provided for, when and as ordered in writing 
by the Engineer ; and shall, when requested by the Engineer so 
to do, furnish itemized statements of cost of the work ordered ; 
and give the Engineer access to accounts, bills, and vouchers 
relating thereto ; nor shall any claims be allowed for extra work 
unless the same shall be done in pursuance of a written order 
from the Engineer, and the claim made at the first settlement 
after the work is executed ; unless the Engineer, at his discre- 
tion, shall direct the claim, or such part of it as he may deem 
just and equitable, to be allowed ; and it is expressly understood 
that the Contractor agrees to accept such alloAvances and esti- 
mates in full satisfaction of such extra work, loss, or damage, 
the decision of the Engineer as to the amount of such extra 
work, loss, and damage being as final, conclusive, and as binding 
on both parties as though the said extra work were a part of 
the work specifically described in this contract. 

Note. — It is customary for the Engineer to allow from 10 to 15 per cent 
for profit over and above the actual cost of the work, which should include the 
cost of superintendence and repair of tools. 

Alterations. The Engineer may from time to time, by an 
instrument in writing signed by him, order the Contractor to 
make changes in the work. In case the changes so ordered 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 25 

make the work less expensive to the Contractor, a proper deduc- 
tion shall be made from the contract price, and the Contractor 
shall have no claim, on this account, for damages or for antici- 
pated profit on the work that is dispensed with ; in case such 
changes make the work more expensive, a proper addition shall 
be made to the contract price; such deduction or addition shall 
be determined by the Engineer. In case of any change ordered 
as aforesaid, or in case any other changes in the work are made 
by the mutual consent of the parties hereto, whether affecting 
the contract price or not, or the time of completion or not, all 
and each of the other provisions of this specification shall remain 
in force and apply to the contract as thus altered. Changes so 
made shall not make void any bonds that may have been given 
by the Contractor. 

Change of Line and Grade. The line of the work or the 
gradients or elevations may be changed, if the Engineer shall 
consider such change necessary or expedient, and for any con- 
siderable alteration the injury or advantage to the Contractor 
will be estimated, and such allowance or deduction made in the 
price as the Engineer may deem just and equitable ; but no claim 
for an increase in prices on the part of the Contractor will be 
allowed or considered unless presented in writing to the Engineer 
before the work on that part of the section where the alteration 
is to be made shall have been commenced. 

Note. — This provision is, of course, applicable to railroads, pipe lines, 
canals, sewers, etc., and hence is not, strictly speaking, a general provision; 
but, as it applies to many kinds of work, it has been introduced here. 

Note. — The changing of plans and specifications is always to be avoided, 
if possible, but it is almost impossible to write a faultless contract and to 
foresee all conditions that will arise. After the beginning of construction, 
changes must sometimes be made. The right of the Engineer to make changes 
during the progress of the construction, while customary, should generally be 
limited to details and to the character of the materials. Of course, the more 
perfect the plans and specifications, the fewer alterations will be required, 
and, consequently, the fewer demands for extra compensation for unforeseen 
work. Eemember that changes made in the specification, plans, or contract 
after execution are not binding unless they are known and agreed to by both 
parties to the contract, in which case all should be noted in writing on the 
instrument and signed by both parties setting forth the date of the change. 
All changes on drawings should be made in a conspicuous color and be carefully 
dated. 

PAYMENT, LIENS, ESTIMATE, BOND, ETC. 

Spirit of Specification. The ''spirit" of these specifications 
is to furnish all material and workmanship necessary for the 
construction herein described, complete in every respect, for 



26 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

the purpose for which it is designed ; and the Contractor is hereby 
bound to consider and provide for any workmanship or mate- 
rials, which are obviously necessary in order to carry out the 
full intent and meaning of the plans, details, diagrams, and 
specifications, although the same may not be either directly or 
indirectly noted by drawings or specifications. He shall pro- 
vide, in his proposal, for the said omissions, as fully as though 
they were specifically denoted, and shall execute the sajne 
without charge or claim therefor. 

Payment. Monthly estimates of the amount of work done 
and material delivered under this contract shall be made by the 
Engineer on or about the first day of the month ; and from the 
estimates so made, the value of the work done and of the material 
delivered on the site of the work shall be determined. Upon 
the Contractor's furnishing a complete release of liens for all 
labor and material furnished to the time of the taking of the 

said estimate, within days the Company shall pay 

the Contractor per cent of the amount due, as 

determined by the Engineer, and this method of payment shall 
continue until the work under this contract is completed. 

The balance or amount remaining unpaid and due the Con- 
tractor shall be paid within days after the final 

completion and acceptance of the work by the Engineer. 

Note. — Amount of Betained Percentage. To insure completion, it is 
customary to retain from 10 to 20 per cent of the monthly estimate until tho 
work is finished. In very large contracts, as certain sections are completed and 
turned over to the Company, the retained percentage is surrendered to the 
Contractor. The time required in making up estimates, forwarding same to 
headquarters, auditing, and forwarding check, takes from 10 to 30 days, 
depending on circumstances; 15 days is usually ample time to allow for these 
transactions. 

Note. — No Claim for Payment until Work is Turned Over. The Contractor 
can make no claim for payment until the materials or the work accomplished 
have been put into the possession of the Company. Should the Company decline 
to accept the materials or work after same has been turned over to it, the 
Contractor may then bring suit to compel payment. 

Note. — No Payment until Certain Amount Complete. Payment may be 
made by installments based on a certain amount accomplished. Under such an 
arrangement the Contractor can make no claim for payment until such an 
amount has been accomplished. Should the Contractor abandon the work before 
Buch an amount of work be done, he could not recover. 

Note. — Accidents. When the work is to be finished before payment is 
made, the Contractor must stand the risk of fire, flood, or other accident; but 
if there is no written contract or custom requiring the entire construction to be 
completed before payment is made, the Contractor may recover for what he has 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 27 

accomplished, in case of accident, fire, or flood, provided it can be proved that 
he used all proper precautions. 

Some contracts require the Contractor to procure and present certificates of 
the proper fulfillment of contract from the Engineer, Inspector, etc., before 
claim is made for payment. 

Release of Liens. Before the final payment the Contractor 
shall give the Company a complete release of liens and claims 
chargeable to said Contractor; and if at any time any liens or 
claims are filed, making the Company, or the work, or construc- 
tion liable, the Company has the right to retain out of any and 
all payments due, or to become due to said Contractor, amounts 
sufficient completely to indemnify the Company, work, or build- 
ings, against such liens and claims; and in the event of any 
liens, or claims, being established after all payments have been 
made and the security surrendered to the Contractor, the Con- 
tractor is to pay back to the said Company all money or moneys 
that the Company may have been compelled to pay in conse- 
quence of such liens or claims. 

Note. — It is of the greatest importance that the Company be protected 
against liens of every character. In cases of unsuccessful contractors, it will 
be found that laborers, mechanics, and material men will make use of liens 
to protect themselves. a lui 

Liens. The Contractor shall file no liens for any labor ox^ 
material furnished under this contract; such waiver of liens,, 
however, shall in no way be considered as a waiver of action by 
law for the recovery of the amount due the Contractor as apT.. 
proved or awarded by the Engineer; it is further agreed that 
no subcontractor for work or material and no laborer, mechanic, 
or any person whatsoever shall have the right to file any lien 
of any kind for any sum which may be due or become due to 
him under this contract, or for work and material furnished 
thereunder, or for any other purpose, and his right to file such 
liens is expressly waived. 

Monthly Estimate Subject to Variation. Every monthly esti- 
mate shall, for the time being, be conclusive upon both parties 
thereto, but being rrlade (except as herein provided as to extra 
work) merely as a basis for payment on account, though with a 
great desire and effort for accuracy, may be only approximately 
correct, and therefore shall (except as herein provided as to 
extra work) be subject to correction by the Engineer in any 
subsequent monthly estimate, or in any final estimate. No such 
monthly estimate or certificate for unfinished work shall be con- 
sidered or taken as an acceptance of the work ; or as a release 
of the Contractor from responsibility therefor; or as controlling 



28 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

the Engineer in the final certificate, which alone shall operate as 
an acceptance of the work or as a release of the Contractor. 

Contractor's Bills in Arrears. If at any time it shall be found 
that the Contractor's bills for material or labor are not being 
paid within a reasonable time, the Company may withhold from 
the Contractor's monthly estimate a sufficient amount to cover 
the said bills, and the Company shall apply the amount so with- 
held to the payment of said debts. 

Abandonment or Violation of Contract. Should the Con- 
tractor neglect or abandon the work, or should the Engineer at 
any time be convinced that the work is unreasonably delayed, or 
that the conditions of the contract are being wilfully violated, 
or executed carelessly, or in bad faith, he may notify the Con- . 
tractor in writing and, if his notification be without effect within 
24 hours after the delivery thereof, then and in that case the 
Contractor shall discontinue all work under the contract, and 
the Engineer shall have full authority and power immediately 
to enter upon and take possession of the work, plant, tools, and 
materials; and to purchase and hire materials, tools, labor, ani- 
mals, and machinery for the completion of the contract at the 
expense of the Contractor, or his sureties, or both ; or the said 
Engineer may declare the contract null and void, in wh^eh case 
the security bond, the retained percentage, the materials built 
into the work, and the materials delivered shall then become 
the property of the Company. 

In case either of the above methods is resorted to, the Com- 
pany shall have the right to use the plant, animals, and materials 
until the completion of the work; and should the amount re- 
tained on the previous estimates be insufficient to pay all bills 
in connection with the work, the Company shall have the right 
to sell as much of the Contractor's plant and tools as shall be 
sufficient to make good the deficit. Upon the completion of the 
work the plant and tools, or those that may remain in case it is 
necessary to make such sale, shall be turned over to the Con- 
tractor. 

Right to Suspend Work. The Engineer reserves the right 
to suspend or terminate the work embraced in these specifica- 
tions for reasons not herein specified, and the Contractor shall 
discontinue all work within 10 days after receiving notice of 
such suspension or termination ; in which case, the Contractor 
shall be entitled to payment in full for all materials actually 
handled or supplied, at a valuation to be fixed by the Engineer, 
but shall make no claim for consequential damages or antici- 
pated profits upon work not actually performed, or damage of 
any kind resulting from such suspension or termination. 



i 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 29 

Agreement. The successful bidder, upon notice from the 
Company, shall at once furnish it with the names of the sureties 
to be offered, and shall execute the agreement and furnish the 

executed bond within days from the date of mailing 

of notice to the said bidder that the contract is ready for sig- 
nature ; and in case of failure or neglect to do so, he will be 
considered to have abandoned the contract, and the check 
accompanying the proposal shall be forfeited to the Company. 

Bond. The Contractor will be required to give an approved 

surety company bond to the Company in the sum of 

..„ , dollars for the faithful execution of the 

work under this specification; for keeping in perfect repair and 
good order all of the new work constructed hereunder; for all 
breakage or other damage that may occur to any works that 

may be within the lines of the work herein described, for. 

years after date of final payment ; for the prompt 

payment for labor and materials used in the work; and for the 
protection of the Company from all claims on patents, or damages 
to persons or property caused by the negligence of the Con- 
tractor or his employes in connection with the work herein de- 
scribed; and it is understood that such surety shall not in any- 
wise be released by any modification or alteration in this con- 
tract agreed upon between the parties, the said bond being ex- 
pressly subject to said modifications or alterations. Said bond 

shall be surrendered months after the date of 

completion and acceptance of the work executed hereunder. 

Note. — Avoid personal bonds; good trust company bonds are secured 
readily by good contractors and are much more satisfactory to the Company. 

TYPICAL ILLUSTRATIVE SPECIFICATIONS 

The various groups of clauses which have just been given 
under the head of General Provisions are, as the heading indi- 
cates, intended to cover the general features of any well-drawn 
set of specifications. The typical specifications which follow 
give a clear idea of the nature of the provisions required for 
special kinds of work, the selections being sufficiently varied in 
character to cover the usual types of contract. 

RAILROAD GRADING 

Tools, Materials, and Labor. The Contractor shall, at his 
own expense, cost, and charge, find and provide a full and ample 
supply of the best and most suitable tools and appliances required 



30 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

to be used in the performance of the work to be executed under 
this contract; he shall provide the best materials of every kind 
that may be needed for the thorough and expeditious execution 
of said work; and he shall furnish and provide in sufficient 
numbers all mechanics, laborers, and other workmen, and also 
all things that may be requisite and necessary for constructing 
and completing, within the time herein stipulated, the whole of 
the work herein agreed to be done. 

Location of Work. The work covered by this specification is 

on the line of the Railroad which 

is located between. in County and 

in County, all lying in the State 

of The section extends from Station 

to Station and involves princi- 
pally clearing, grubbing, grading, trestling, masonry, pipe, 
masonry or timber culverts. 

GRADING SPECIFICATIONS 

Under this head shall be included all the clearing and grub- 
bing, all excavation and embankment required for the formation 
of the roadbed ready for the track ; cutting of ditches or drains 
about or contiguous to the road ; widening or changing channels 
for streams or watercourses; the construction of farm crossings; 
the foundation of culverts and bridge masonry, walls or bridges; 
reconstruction of mill races, highways, and roads where they 
are interfered with or destroyed in the formation of the road- 
way; also the furnishing and erecting of all masonry, trestling, 
planking, piling, pumping, bailing, and all the excavation and 
embankment in any way connected with or incident to the con- 
struction of said railroad. 

The road shall be graded in conformity with such directions 
as the Chief Engineer may give concerning breadths, depths, 
and slopes of excavation and embankment. 

Clearing. The lands of the railroad company shall be cleared 
to the full extent of the right of way of all trees, logs, bushes, 
and other perishable matter, which shall be destroyed by burning, 
or deposited in heaps, as the Engineer may direct. Large trees 
must be cut not more than 1 foot from the ground and, under 
embankments less than 4 feet high, they shall be cut even with 
the surface of the ground. The top of stumps shall not be less 
than 3 feet below subgrade under embankments. All small trees 
and bushes shall be cut even with the ground. The burning of 
brush must be done in such a manner as not to endanger adjacent 
timber land or property. Clearing shall be paid for by the acre 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 31 

or fraction thereof, to the extent indicated by the Engineer by- 
stakes or by marks on the ground or timber. All trees which 
the Engineer may reserve shall be stripped of their tops and 
branches, cut to such lengths, and be neatly piled at such places, 
on the right of way, as the Engineer may direct. 

Grubbing. All stumps, roots, muck, and perishable material 
shall be grubbed out and removed from all places where embank- 
ments occur less than 2 feet in height. All stumps grubbed out 
shall be burned. Until the Contractor is notified that the work 
done on the surface to be grubbed is satisfactory to the Engineer, 
no embankment shall be made on such surface. Grubbing is to 
be paid for by the acre or fraction thereof actually grubbed. 

Excavation. All material shall be measured in the excava- 
tions, and estimated by the cubic yard, and shall be classified 
under the following heads, viz : solid rock, loose rock, earth, 
foundation excavation in water, and ditching in earth. 

Solid Bock. Solid rock shall include all rock which will ring 
under the hammer, which is found in ledges and detached masses 
exceeding 1 cubic yard each; and which, in the judgment of 
the Engineer, may be best removed by blasting. 

Loose Bock. Loose rock shall include all kinds of hard shale, 
slate, soapstone, detached stones of less than 1 cubic yard and 
more than 3 cubic feet, and all rock which, in the judgment of 
the Engineer, cannot be plowed and which can be removed with 
pick and bar, and is soft and loose enough to be removed with- 
out blasting, although blasting may be resorted to in order to 
facilitate the work. 

Earth. Earth shall include clay, sand, loam, gravel, and all 
other matter of an earthy nature, of whatsoever name or char- 
acter, not unquestionably rock as above defined. Boulders or 
detached stones containing less than 3 cubic feet shall be classified 
as earth. 

Excavation in Water for Bridge or Culvert Foundation. Foun- 
dation excavation in water shall apply to material below the 
natural water surface and only in cases where (through no fault 
or delay of the Contractor) constant unavoidable pumping or 
bailing is a necessity, and where draining by a ditch would be 
too expensive or impossible ; the material shall be classified as 
excavation, and the price shall include the necessary cofferdams, 
caissons, sheeting, shoring, draining, bailing, and pumping of 
water, and the benching and dressing of the rock for base of 
masonry. Where unnecessary delay occurs in finishing a foun- 
dation promptly in dry weather, it will be at the Contractor's 
risk, as regards the excavation, in case water is met. 



32 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Embankments. Embankments shall generally be made in 
horizontal layers, crowned in the middle, in accordance with 
the instructions of the Engineer, and shall consist of materials 
which, in his judgment, are suitable ; they shall be built of such 
width and carried to such height above grade as the Engineer 
may deem necessary to provide for shrinkage, compression, wash- 
ing, drainage, and settlement, and must be maintained to their 
proper height, width, and shape until accepted by the Engineer. 
No large stone will be allowed within a depth of at least 2 feet 
below grade ; the best materials must in all cases be reserved for 
finishing and dressing the surfaces. Whenever the embankment 
is made from the side ditches, such ditching and the crest of 
the slopes thereof shall in no case. approach within 6 feet of the 
foot of the embankment slopes, and the slopes of such ditching 
next to the embankment shall not be steeper than the slope of 
the embankment. Whenever new watercourses or channels are 
required to be formed, they shall be put at such distances from 
the foot of the slopes as the Engineer may direct. 

No perishable materials will be allowed in embankments. All 
proper materials taken from the excavation on the line of the 
railroad shall be placed in the embankment, and all surplus 
materials shall be used in widening embankments in such manner 
as the Engineer may direct. 

The subgrade must be compact and finished to agree with 
the standard roadbed section, and no depression that would hold 
water shall be left. 

Embankments about Culverts. Embankments about masonry 
and pipe culverts and bridges shall be built at such times, and 
in such manner, and of such material as the Engineer may direct. 
Embankments shall be carried forward in the usual way to within 
10 feet of any bridge or culvert, finished or in progress, from 
which point the earth shall be carefully rammed to such width, 
depth, slopes, and in such manner as the Engineer may direct. 
No additional prices shall be allowed for this Avork. 

Borrow Pits arid Spoil Banks. In all cases where the excava- 
tions are insufficient to make the embankments, the deficiency 
shall be supplied by widening the excavations, or it shall be sup- 
plied from borrow pits, as the Engineer may direct, and all such 
excavations and borrow pits shall be located, drained, and sloped 
as the Engineer may direct. No borrow pit shall be opened 
until same has been staked out on the ground by the Engineer 
in charge. All excavations and borrow pits shall be left in such 
shape that they can be readily measured. 

Any surplus material taken from the excavation and not re- 
quired for embankments, or other purposes, shall be deposited 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 33 

evenly on either side of the embankment, as the Engineer may- 
direct, and shall in no case be raised above the grade of the road. 

Ditches. In cuts, ditches shall be dug along the foot of the 
slopes, of such dimensions as the Engineer may direct. To pro- 
tect the cuts from washing, intercepting ditches shall be dug 
above the cutting, upon ground sloping toward the cuts, and 
connected with the embankment ditches, when directed by the 
Engineer; and if the material from such ditches is wasted, it 
shall be deposited between the ditch and the cut. Such exca- 
vation shall be paid for as part of the ordinary excavation of 
the section. 

Ditches for changing the flow of streams and for draining 
marshes, ponds, etc., shall be cut of such dimensions and the 
materials shall be so deposited as the Engineer shall direct; the 
same to be paid for at the price named in the proposal for 
"Ditching in Earth". 

Valuable Material and Timber. All materials taken from the 
excavations, which, in the judgment of the Engineer, may be of 
greater value to the railroad company for other purposes than 
embankments, and also all timber, removed from the line of the 
railroad, shall be considered the property of the Railroad Com- 
pany, and shall be deposited in convenient positions, under the 
direction of the Engineer. 

Slips and Falls. All slips and falls of slopes attributable, in 
the opinion of the Engineer, to excessive use of powder, negli- 
gence, or carelessness of the Contractor shall be removed by the 
Contractor at his own cost; but if not so attributable, an allow- 
ance, to be fixed by the Engineer, shall be made for such removal 
as "Earth Excavation". 

Measurements. Clearing shall be paid for by the acre or 
fraction thereof. The clearing of scattered trees shall be paid 
for by the approximate area of the surface of ground covered 
by their branches before being felled. Grubbing shall be paid 
for by the acre or fraction thereof, of surface actually grubbed. 
The Contractor shall give the Engineer at least 48 hours' notice 
previous to beginning the making of embankments on surface 
grubbed, and the same shall not be paid for unless it shall have 
been measured by the Engineer, and the Contractor shall have 
been given a written order to proceed with the embankment on 
the surface in question. 

Materials in excavations shall be measured whenever pos- 
sible, and the term "excavation" shall include all cuttings, bor- 
row pits, roadways, changes of watercourses, ditches, founda- 
tions, and trestle pits, and, in fact, every kind of excavation 
required at any time in the course of the work. 



34 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Excavation, in all the several classes thereof, shall be of such 
dimensions and slope as the Engineer may direct, and shall be 
estimated and paid for by the cubic yard, and no allowance 
whatever shall be made for overhaul. The price for excavation 
shall include all the necessary sheeting, shoring, pumping, and 

bailing. For the material to be excavated (under the 

Railroad from Station to 

Station) for the roadbed and for abutment walls, 

a special price will be paid, as named in the proposal, which 
price for excavation shall cover the sheathing of excavation and 
supporting of tracks in a manner satisfactory to the Chief 
Engineer of the Railroad Company. 

GENERAL CONDITIONS AND PROVISIONS 

Duties of Contractor. Contractors shall satisfy themselves by 
a careful personal examination of the nature and location of the 
work they bid for, of the general form of the surface of the 
ground, and all other matters which can in any way influence 
their contract; and no information upon such matters derived 
from the maps, plans, profiles, drawings, or specifications, or 
from the Engineer or his assistants, shall in any way relieve the 
Contractor from any risk, or from fulfilling any of the terms of 
this agreement. 

Interference with Traffic. When work is to be done upon 
or adjacent to a public or private road, or to a line of railway 
in use, the Contractor shall so prosecute his work as to inter- 
fere as little as possible with the traffic of the railway, or the 
traffic of such public or private road. And all work that may 
affect the safety of the railway traffic shall be subject to the 
direction of the Division Superintendent of the railway com- 
pany. When it is necessary to support the tracks of the railway, 
the railway company will furnish and place all of the necessary 
timbers for this work, but the Contractor shall do all the exca- 
vating therefor. 

Property on Right of Way. Fences, buildings, timber, and 
wood on the right of way along the line of the road are the 

property of either the landowner, or the party of the 

part; and if not removed by the landowner within a reasonable 
time, shall be cleared off by the Contractor, and shall be piled 

up, and preserved for the use of the party of the part, 

without charge. 

Damages. In case one portion of the work, contracted to be 
done in accordance with these specifications, is delayed through 
the negligence or incompetence of a contractor for some other 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 35 

portion of the work, whatever damage may result, or whatever 
expense may be incurred by the Contractor so delayed, because 
of such negligence or incompetence, the amount of damage or 
expense shall be charged to the contractor at fault, and the 
Engineer shall decide the amount so to be charged; and the party 
of the second part shall in no wise be responsible therefor, or 
for the payment therefor by the other contractor. 

Roads to be Opened. Contractors having work awarded to 
them shall, immediately after signing their contracts, proceed to 
open and maintain such good and safe roads and paths for foot 
or horse travel along the whole line of their sections, as may 
be directed by the Engineer; and on portions of the line where 
there are no highways convenient for the wagoning of supplies, 
they must open and maintain such roads, and the Engineer shall 
decide what extra amount, if any, they will be entitled to for 
this work. 

Any person having permission from the Engineer shall be 
allowed to pass along or haul any materials required for the road 
over any section, provided such persons do not interfere with 
or impede the work of the Contractor. 

Marks and Stakes to be Preserved. Contractors shall care- 
fully preserve bench marks and stakes and, in case of willful or 
careless neglect of these, they shall be charged whatever the 
Engineer shall consider an equitable amount to cover damages 
arising from such negligence. 

All excavations and embankments shall conform to the line 
and stakes set out by the Engineer, and any excess of excavation 
or waste of material required for embankment at the mouth of 
cuts, due to neglect of these lines and stakes, shall not be esti- 
mated or paid for. 

Contractors shall clear away the surplus stone and wreckage 
from masonry sites after the jobs are done ; and, before the 
completion of each section, remove from adjacent properties, 
bermes, and highways the blasted rock and all other debris accu- 
mulated during construction. 

Grade. The word ''grade" whenever herein used refers to 
the surface of the roadbed as completed and prepared for the 
reception of the ballast. 

Acknowledgment. These specifications are hereby acknowl- 
edged, accepted, and made part of this agreement. 

Claims for Labor or Material. It is hereby agreed that no 
lien nor claim shall be filed by anyone for the work or labor to 
be done or the materials to be furnished, under or in pursuance 
of this contract. 



36 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

FOUNDATIONS 

General Specifications. Foundations for masonry shall be 
excavated to such depths as may be necessary to secure a bearing 
which is satisfactory to the Engineer. In case of foundations 
in rock, the rock shall be excavated to such depths and in such 
form as may be required by the Engineer, and shall be dressed 
approximately level to receive the foundation course. Materials 
excavated shall be paid for as provided for under "Excavation". 

Special Foundations. Should the bottom as found be not 
satisfactory, special foundations shall be constructed of concrete, 
reinforced concrete, or of timber piling or platforms, as directed, 
and in accordance with plans to be furnished. If work of special 
character be required, the Contractor shall be paid for it at the 
special prices named in the proposal, and said prices shall include 
all materials and all labor necessary for placing it in the work. 

Piles. Piles shall be of white oak, long-leaf yellow pine, or 
spruce pine, as directed ; sound, of straight growth, not less than 
8 inches in diameter at the small end, and not less than 12 inches 
at the butt end when sawed off. They shall be trimmed close, 
barked if required, pointed or shod as directed, and hooped to 
prevent splitting. They shall each be of one piece without 
splicing or doweling. They shall be driven with a hammer 
weighing at least 2500 pounds, to refusal, or to the point directed, 
in straight rows, and shall be sawed off truly level. If any piles 
are raised by the subsequent driving of others, they shall be re- 
driven. If any piles be driven too low to be cut off or fitted at 
the required elevation, proper piles shall be substituted. Piles 
split or otherwise injured shall be replaced or repaired as directed. 

The piles in place shall be paid for at the price per lineal foot 
given in the proposal. No part of the pile shall be paid for 
except that which remains in the work. 

Pile Shoes. Pile shoes, when required, shall be paid for as 
additional steel. They shall be chilled points, 4 inches square at 
the point of the pile, with 4 straps of approved size, fastened 
with 8 three-eighths-inch by 4-inch spikes to the pile, which shall 
be properly fitted to give a square and even bearing on the shoe. 

MASONRY 
GENERAL CLAUSES 

Stone, General. Stone masonry shall be built of the kinds of 
stone specially designated, with such arrangement of courses and 
bonds as is directed or shown on the plans. The stone shall be 
hard and durable, as large as practicable for the work, of ap- 
proved quality and shape, and in no case having less bed than rise. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 37 

Laying. Stone masonry shall be laid with the stones on their 
broadest beds, well bonded and solidly bedded. 

All walls shall be laid up in cement mortar, cement grout 
being used to fill all vertical joints which cannot be thoroughly 
filled with mortar, and the stone shall be thoroughly wetted 
when it is laid. All walls shall be made as water-tight as pos- 
sible. The face and back of the walls shall be carried up to- 
gether. No hammering on the wall shall be allowed after the 
stone is set; if any inequalities occur, they shall be carefully 
pointed off. 

Clean Walls. The showing face of all walls shall be left thor- 
oughly clean upon the completion of the work. 

Setting. Dressed stone shall be set with a lewis if required; 
and where dressed stone is bedded in mortar it shall be settled 
on the bed with a wooden maul. 

Concrete Coping. Concrete coping shall be composed of 1-3-6 
concrete as specified, built to the dimensions shown on the plans. 
The top and sides shall be treated as specified under the para!- 
graphs relating to exposed surfaces of concrete. If made as a 
monolith on top of the wall, the coping shall be cut into such 
lengths as may be directed. Payment shall be made at the price 
per cubic yard for '^Concrete Coping" in the proposal, which 
price shall include the cost of all forms, etc. 

Concrete coping may be made as an artificial stone. If so 
made, the length of the blocks and all details shall be approved 
by the Engineer. 

Back Walls. Where stone is used for back walls, it shall be 
laid as stretchers and extend through the wall without being 
backed with other masonry; the faces shall be rough-pointed. 
Back walls shall be capped with a regular course, peen-hammered 
on top. Generally, they shall not be built until the superstructure 
has been placed in position. 

Bridge Seats and Pedestal Blocks. Where bridge seats and 
pedestal blocks are of stone, approved granite shall be used. 
The top surfaces under the bearings of trusses, main girders, 
columns, or other principal metal bearings shall be bushham- 
mered and the remainder of the upper surfaces shall be peen- 
hammered. The showing edges of bridge seats, pedestals, and 
caps shall be rough-pointed. Bushhammers shall have 5 cuts 
per inch. 

Concrete Bridge Seats and Pedestal Blocks. Where bridge 
seats and pedestal blocks are of concrete, they shall be composed 
of 1-2-4 concrete, made with three-fourths-inch stone, as specified, 
and built to the dimensions shown on the plans, with a hard 
trowel finish on all showing faces. ^Payment shall be made at the 



38 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

special price per cubic yard named in the proposal, which price 
shall include the cost of all forms, etc. 

Finish of Walls not Coped. The top of the masonry when 
not covered by a coping shall be finished with large stones 
selected for the purpose, which will give an approximately flat 
surface. 

Pointing. The joints on faces of masonry above the founda- 
tion shall be cleaned out to a depth of 1 inch, wetted, and pointed 
with Portland cement mortar well and securely pressed into the 
joints; the whole work shall have a neat and clean finish. Cut- 
stone work shall be hollow-pointed; all other masonry shall be 
cut-pointed. 

New Masonry on Old. When new masonry is laid on old 
masonry, the latter shall be cleaned, wetted, and thoroughly 
grouted before laying new work. All new work shall bond with 
the old. The new face stones shall match the old. 

Dressing before Setting. All cutting and dressing necessary 
shall be done before the stones are set, and by skilled workmen. 
Under no circumstances shall the hammering or dressing of 
stone upon the walls be allowed. The stones shall be placed in 
position so as not to disturb those previously laid. 

Dressing. In all classes of work, the faces of the stone shall 
have uniform projections, not exceeding 3 inches beyond the 
neat lines. All projecting angles and arrises shall have hammer- 
dressed beds and joints and shall be run with a neat chisel draft 
of 1^ inches on each face. 

Mortar Joints. Mortar joints in the face of the wall, in first- 
class and second-class work, shall not exceed one-half inch in 
thickness. The vertical joints of the face shall be in contact at 
least 1 foot in first-class and 9 inches in second-class work, meas- 
ured in from the face, and as much more as the stone will admit. 

Dashing Backs of Walls. The joints on the back of all 
masonry walls shall be carefully and thoroughly dashed with 
cement mortar so as to make the walls as nearly water-tight as 
possible. 

When the back of a wall adjoins rock, it shall be built tight 
against the rock and the joint shall be thoroughly grouted. 

Dry Stone Packing. Dry stone packing shall consist of stone 
laid without mortar, and the stone used shall generally be from 
three-fourths of a cubic foot to 2 cubic feet in volume. 

Measurement. All masonry shall be built according to the 
plans and instructions furnished by the Engineer^ and the several 
classes thereof shall be estimated and paid for by the cubic yard, 
computing only the actual solidity thereof required by the plans. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 39 

No constructive or conventional measurement shall be allowed, 
any rule or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. 

Freezing Weather. All work in stone and brick masonry and 
concrete shall be suspended during freezing weather except on 
structures in which delay would affect the general progress of 
the work and under such regulations and conditions as the Engi- 
neer may prescribe. Whenever required by the Engineer, the 
sand and water shall be heated before being used in the work. 
No masonry laid in freezing weather shall be pointed until spring. 

Inspection. All material shall be subject to inspection and 
any that has been condemned shall immediately be removed from 
the site of the work. All masonry shall be subject to the super- 
vision of an Inspector whose duties shall be to see that the re- 
quirements of these specifications are conformed to, but his pres- 
ence is in no way to be presumed to lessen in any degree the 
responsibility of the Contractor or his obligations. 

No masonry of any kind shall be covered up before it has 
been inspected and passed upon. 

Price to Include. The price per cubic yard paid for stone, 
brick, or concrete masonry shall include the furnishing of all 
material, all scaffolding, forms, and centering, and all other ex- 
penses necessary to the construction and completion of the 
masonry and the maintenance of same until the work is accepted. 

CLASSIFICATiaN OF MASONRY 

Masonry shall be classified under the following heads: First 
Class; Second Class; Third Class; Pirst-Class Arch; Brick; and 
Concrete. 

First=CIass Masonry 

First-class masonry shall consist of range rock work of the 
best description. The face stones shall be accurately squared, 
pointed, and bedded, and laid in regular and horizontal courses 
of not less than 12 inches in thickness and not greater than 30 
inches, decreasing in thickness regularly from the bottom to the 
top of the walls. The stones of each course shall be so arranged 
as to form a proper bond with the stones of the underlying 
courses, and a bond of less than 1 foot shall in no case be allowed. 

Stretchers. Stretchers shall not be less than 4 feet in length. 
They shall have 18 inches width of bed for all courses under 18 
inches; and for all courses above 18 inches they shall have as 
much bed as face. They shall not break joint on headers. 

Headers. Headers shall not be less than 4 feet in length. 
They shall occupy one-fifth of the face of the wall and no header 
shall have less than 18 inches width of face; where the course 



40 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

exceeds 18 inches in height, the width of face shall not be less 
than the height of the course. 

When the walls do not exceed 4 feet in thickness, the headers 
shall run entirely through, and in all cases they shall be long 
enough to form a proper bond with the backing. 

When the stone used in any w^ork is in very large blocks, ex- 
ceeding the requirements given above, then a stone that runs 
into the wall to a distance at least as great as the average length 
of the stretchers shall be considered a header. 

Backing. The backings shall be of third-class masonry or 
1-3-6 concrete, as shall be directed by the Engineer, well bonded 
with the facework and itself. 

Foundation Courses. All work below the neat line shall be 
1-3-6 concrete, laid as specified, and paid for at the price for 
''1-3-6 concrete masonry in foundation". 

Laying. The masonry shall be laid up as specified under 
''Laying". 

Bridge Piers. Bridge piers built in streams subject to ice 
floes shall be built of first-class masonry facing with concrete 
masonry backing, in the heart of the wall. 

The stones forming the cutwater of piers which act as ice 
breakers shall be neatly and smoothly dressed on their faces, and 
fastened together wdth iron cramps and to the interior of the 
piers. The surfaces of the other face stones shall, with the ex- 
ception of the draft, be left as they come from the quarry unless 
the projection above the draft exceeds 3 inches, in which case 
they shall be roughly scabbled down to that projection. 

Second=CIass Masonry 

Second-class masonry shall consist of broken or random range 
rock work of the best description, and shall conform in every 
other respect to first-class masonry. 

Third=Class Masonry 

Third-class masonry shall be formed of approved quarry stone 
of good shape and good flat beds. No stones shall be used in 
the face of the walls less than 6 inches thick, or less than 12 
inches in their least horizontal dimensions. 

Headers and Face Stones. Headers shall generally form at 
least one-fifth of the faces and backs of the walls, with a similar 
proportion throughout the mass when they do not interlock, and 
the face stones shall be well scabbled or otherwise worked so 
that they may be set close, and chinking with small stones be 
avoided. 



' CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 41 

Size of Stones, etc. In walls 5 feet thick or less, the stones 
used shall average from 6 to 8 cubic feet in volume, and the 
length of the headers shall be equal to two-thirds of the thickness 
of the wall; in walls over 5 feet in thickness, the stones used shall 
average 12 cubic feet in volume, and the headers shall not be less 
than 4 feet long. Generally no stones shall be used having a 
less volume than 4 cubic feet, except for filling the interstices 
between the larger stones. 

Limit of Height and Bond. In no case shall stones be used 
having a greater height or build than 30 inches, and these stones 
must bond the joints above and below at least 18 inches; in all 
other cases the smaller stones used must bond the joints above 
and below at least 10 inches. 

Foundation Stones. The stones in the foundation generally 
shall be not less than 10 inches in thickness and contain not less 
than 10 square feet of surface. 

The foundation shall consist of 1-3-6 concrete, if so directed 
by the Engineer. 

Laying. The masonry shall be laid up as specified under 
^'Laying". 

First=Class Arch Masonry 

First-class arch masonry shall be laid in cement mortar, and 
shall be built in accordance with the specifications for first-class 
masonry, when and to the extent that the Engineer may direct. 
The ring stones shall be dressed to such size and shape as the 
Engineer may determine. 

Ring Stones and Arch-Sheeting Stones. The ring stones and 
arch-sheeting stones shall not be of less thickness than 10 inches 
on the intrados of the arch, and shall be dressed with §-inch 
radial joints, and shall be of the full depth specified by plans, 
or otherwise, for the thickness of the arch. The joints shall be 
made on true radial lines, and the ends of the sheeting stones 
and the ring stones shall be dressed to make close joints. The 
ring stones and the arch-sheeting stones shall break joints not 
less than 1 foot apart. 

Parapets. The parapets shall be finished with a coping course 
of the full width of the top of the parapet, with such projection 
as may be directed by the Engineer. The stones shall be not less 
than 10 inches in thickness. 

Brick Masonry 

Brick masonry shall be laid with the best quality of hard 
burned brick, well tempered and molded to standard size. 



42 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Quality of Bricks. No bats, except necessarily as closers for 
properly dimensioning the several courses, nor cracked, crooked, 
or salmon bricks, shall, under any circumstances, be allowed in 
the work. The bricks shall be thoroughly wetted and shall be 
laid, end and side at one operation, in full close joints of mortar. 
The style of bond shall be prescribed by the Engineer. The best- 
shaped and best-colored brick shall be reserved for facework, 
which shall be finished with a neatly drawn joint and pointed 
where required. 

Mortar and Grouting. Proportions. All mortar to be used in 
the building of stone or brick masonry shall be composed of 1 
part of cement to 3 parts of sand. All mortar for pointing and 
bedding copings, bridge seats, and pedestal blocks shall be com- 
posed of 1 part of cement to 2 parts of sand. 

Grout shall be composed of 1 part of Portland cement to 3 
parts of sand, except where the foundations are wet, when the 
quantity of sand shall be diminished, making the proportions 1 
part of cement to 2 parts of sand, and this shall be used in the 
foundation masonry up to the neat lines, if required. 

All the above mixtures shall be proportioned by measurement. 
It is assumed that 376 pounds of cement shall have a volume of 
3.6 cubic feet. The sand and cement shall first be mixed dry in 
suitable tight boxes, after which the proper amount of water 
shall be gradually added. Only such quantities of mortar or 
grouting shall be mixed as are needed for immediate use ; if 
allowed to set, it shall not be retempered and used in masonry 
construction. 

Tensile Strength. Mortar taken from the mixing box and 
molded into briquettes, 1 square inch in cross section, shall 
develop the following ultimate tensile strengths: 

Per Square Inch 

7 days (1 day in air, 6 days in water), 1 part 

of cement to 3 parts of sand 125 lbs. 

28 days (1 day in air, 27 days in water), 1 

part of cement to 3 parts sand 175 lbs. 

Sand. Sand for grouting shall be tide-washed, sharp, siliceous, 
dry-screened bar or approved bank sand, containing not more 
than 5 per cent of loam, clay, dirt, or other impurities. Sand for 
mortar shall be composed of grains graded from coarse to fine, 
thoroughly screened to reject all particles exceeding one-eighth 
inch in diameter, and shall be clean and sharp, containing not more 
than 5 per cent by weight of clay, loam, dirt and other impurities, 
and equal in quality to the best New Jersey bank sand. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



43 



Water. Water shall be fresh, and free from dirt, oil, or grease. 
Salt water may be used, as directed by the Engineer, when nec- 
essary to construct masonry in freezing weather. 



Cement 

Kind. All cement shall be Portland, of the best quality, dry 
and free from lumps. By Portland cement is meant the finely- 
pulverized product resulting from the calcination to incipient 
fusion of an intimate mixture of properly proportioned argilla- 
ceous and calcareous materials to which no addition greater than 
3 per cent has been made subsequent to calcination. 

Packages. Cement shall be packed in strong cloth or canvas 
bags, or in sound barrels lined with paper, which shall be plainly 
marked with the brand and name of the manufacturer. Bags 
shall contain 94 pounds net and barrels shall contain 376 pounds 
net. 

Inspection. All cement shall be inspected. The Contractor 
shall submit the cement, and afford every facility for inspection 
and testing, at least 12 days before desiring to use it. The Engi- 
neer shall be notified at once upon receipt of each shipment. No 
cement shall be inspected or allowed to be used unless delivered 
in suitable packages, properly branded. 

Protection. The cement shall be protected in a suitable build- 
ing having a wooden floor or platform raised from the ground, 
and may be reinspected at any time. 

Storage. The cement shall be stored in a manner that will 
enable each carload lot to be kept separate and be tagged with 
car number and date of receipt. One carload shall not be placed 
immediately upon another. 

Failure of Brand. The failure of a shipment of cement on 
any work to meet the requirements given below may prohibit 
further use of the same brand on that work. Rejected cement 
shall immediately be removed from the work. 

Quality. The acceptance or rejection of a cement to be used 
shall rest with the Engineer, and shall be based on the following 
requirements : 

Specific Gravity: not less than 3.1. 
Ultimate Tensile Strength per square inch: 

7 days (1 day in air, 6 days in water) 500 lbs. 

28 days (1 day in air, 27 days in water) . . 600 lbs. 
7 days (1 day in air, 6 days in water), 1 
part of cement to 3 parts standard 
quartz sand 200 lbs. 



44 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

28 days (1 day in air, 27 days in water), 1 
part of cement to 3 parts standard 
quartz sand 275 lbs. 

Fineness: Residue on No. 100 sieve not over 8 per cent by weight. 
Residue on No. 200 sieve not over 25 per cent by 
weight. 

Set. It shall require at least 30 minutes to develop initial set, 
and not less than 1 hour nor more than 10 hours to develop hard 
set. These requirements may be modified where the conditions 
of use make it desirable. 

Constancy of Volume. Pats of cement 3 inches in diameter, 
one-half inch thick at center, and tapering to a thin edge, when 
immersed in water after 24 hours in moist air, shall show no signs 
of cracking, distortion, or disintegration. Similar pats in air 
shall also remain sound and hard. The cement shall pass such 
accelerated tests as the Engineer may determine. 

The following test will be made in accordance with the rules 
adopted for Standard tests by the American Society for Testing 
Materials, August 16, 1909, with subsequent amendments. 

Sulphuric anhydride (SO3) ; not more than 1.75 
per cent. 

Magnesia (MgO) ; not more than 4 per cent. 

Briquettes for testing shall be 1 square inch in 
area of cross section; sieves shall be of brass wire- 
cloth having approximately 9800 and 37,500 meshes 
per square inch, respectively, the diameter of the 
wire being 0.0045 and 0.0023 inches, respectively. 

Concrete 

Proportions. Concrete masonry shall consist of two grades. 
These shall be used wherever specified or directed by the 
Engineer. They shall be known as 1-2-4 and 1-3-6, respectively. 

Parts hy Volume 



Cement 


Sand 


Stone 


1 
1 


2 
3 


4 

6 



If required by the Engineer, the mixture shall be modified 
by changing the relative amounts of sand and stone, but keeping 
the aggregate of 6 parts of sand and stone for the 1-2-4 concrete, 
and 9 parts of sand and stone for the 1-3-6 concrete. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 45 

The proportions of all materials shall be determined by meas- 
urement. The volume of a barrel of cement, 376 pounds, shall 
be assumed to be 3.6 cubic feet. The sand and stone shall not 
be packed more closely than by throwing in the usual way into 
a barrel or box at the time of measurement. 

Cement. Portland cement shall be used, of the quality speci- 
fied under "Cement". 

Stone. The stone shall be clean hard crushed stone or peb- 
bles, to be approved by the Engineer, composing the whole run 
of the crusher, in size from one-fourth inch to three-fourths inch, 
when used for bedding on metal decks, bridge seats, etc. ; and 
from one-fourth inch to IJ inches for other purposes, screened 
of dust and particles less than one-fourth inch. 

Sand. Sand shall be clean and sharp and shall be composed 
of grains graded from fine to coarse, screened if required, to 
reject all particles of a greater diameter than one-fourth inch. 
It shall not contain more than a 5 per cent weight of clay, loam, 
dirt, or other impurities, and shall be equal in quality to the 
best New Jersey bank sand. 

Care of Sand and Stone. Sand and stone when delivered on 
the work shall be dumped on platforms and not upon the ground. 

Machine Mixing. All mixing shall preferably be done by 
machine, but hand mixing shall be allowed in special cases. 

When mixed by machine, cubical box mixers, or those which 
allow of dry mixing of the materials before the water is added, 
shall be preferred. The proportions shall be accurately deter- 
mined before being placed in the mixer and means shall be pro- 
vided for accurately measuring the water. 

(See water specifications, page 43.) 

Measuring boxes or other approved apparatus shall be used, 
so that the proportions can be exactly determined. The ingredi- 
ents shall be thoroughly mixed before the water is added, and 
the mixing shall be continued until every particle of stone is 
covered with mortar. No retempering shall be allowed under 
any conditions. 

Hand Mixing. When mixed by hand, the cement and sand 
shall be first mixed dry and then rnade into a mortar. The stone 
shall be spread upon a suitable floor to a depth of about 6 inches 
and thoroughly wetted (see water specifications, page 43), and 
the mortar evenly spread over it, care being taken that the stone 
of each batch is mixed as to size. The whole mass shall then 
be turned over 4 times and raked to secure complete and uniform 
mixture. If the Contractor desires to use some other method, 
he shall submit it for approval. Should the mixture be per- 
mitted to set before placing or tamping, it shall be removed and 



46 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

not used. Hand-mixed batches shall not be larger than 1 cubic 
yard in volume. 

Depositing. All concrete shall be deposited in sections and 
in layers of such thickness — not exceeding 9 inches — as the 
Engineer shall direct. It shall be of such consistency that when 
dumped in place it will not require much tamping, but shall not 
be wet enough to cause the mortar to separate from the stone ; 
it shall be spaded down and tamped sufficiently to level off and 
will then quake freely like jelly. Where concrete is marked on 
the face into courses, each requiring two or more layers, the 
layers shall follow each other in close succession before setting, 
so as to avoid visible joints on the face of a course. 

Surface of Concrete Exposed to the Street. Surfaces of con- 
crete exposed to the street shall be composed of 1 part cement, 2 
parts coarse sand or gravel, and 2 parts granolithic grit, made 
into a stiff mortar. Granolithic grit shall be granite or trap 
rock crushed to pass a one-fourth-inch sieve and screened of dust. 
For vertical surfaces the mixture shall be deposited to a minimum 
thickness of 1 inch against the face forms by skilled workmen. 
This shall be done as the placing of the concrete proceeds, and thus 
form a part of the body of the work. Care shall be taken to 
prevent the occurrence of air spaces or voids in the surface. The 
face forms shall be removed as soon as the concrete has suffi- 
ciently hardened and any voids that may appear shall be filled 
up with the mixture. 

The surface shall then be washed immediately with water 
until the grit is exposed ; it shall then be rinsed clean, protected 
from the sun, and kept moist for 3 days. For horizontal surfaces, 
the granolithic mixture shall be deposited on the concrete to a M 

minimum thickness of IJ inches, immediately after the concrete has '• 

been tamped and before it has set, and shall be troweled to an 
even surface ; after it has set sufficiently hard, it shall be washed 
until the grit is exposed. 

All concrete surfaces exposed to the street shall be marked 
off into courses in such detailed manner as may be directed by 
the Engineer. 

Other Showing Surfaces. All other showing surfaces shall be 
prepared by keeping the stone well back from the face as the 
concrete is placed; this is done by bringing the mortar against 
the forms by ''spading". 

Horizontal exposed surfaces shall be finished with a layer of 
cement mortar, 1 part cement to 2 parts sand, 1 inch thick, and 
troweled to a smooth surface. 

After the forms are removed the surfaces shall be pointed 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 47 

where necessary and washed with neat cement applied with a 
brush. 

Plastering the face after removing the forms shall not be 
permitted. 

Protection of Exposed Surfaces. Provision shall be made to 
protect exposed surfaces from the action of the elements, until 
the concrete has set. 

Forms. Suitable forms shall be constructed, the cost of which 
shall be included in the price per cubic yard for the concrete. 

The dimensions shall be such that the finished concrete shall 
be of the form and dimensions shown on the plans or as ordered 
by the Engineer. All forms shall be set true to the lines desig- 
nated and shall be built so as to remain firm and secure until 
the concrete has firmly set. They shall be satisfactory to the 
Engineer and shall remain in place as long as he deems it neces- 
sary. The interior surfaces of the forms which come in contact 
with the exposed surfaces of the concrete shall be of dressed 
lumber having close joints, and shall be so constructed as to 
leave all exposed surfaces of the concrete smooth, even, and pre- 
sentable. Face forms shall have triangular beads secured to the 
planks to mark the face of the concrete into courses by imprint. 

All top edges of copings, pedestal blocks, and bridge seats, 
the vertical angles of abutments, piers, and retaining walls, and 
the bottom edges of the rings of all arches shall be formed by 
placing fillets inside the forms as shown on the plans. 

Cleaning Joints. In work above ground, the top surface of 
each course shall be scraped within 24 hours, to remove the 
^'laitance" or scum, and insure the adhesion of the next layer. 

Contraction Joints. Contraction joints shall be placed wher- 
ever directed by the Engineer. The sections of wall shall gen- 
erally be about 50 feet in length, shall be made with tongue and 
grooved joints as directed, and corrugated asbestos boards shall 
be used on the faces of the joints. Payment shall be made for 
the corrugated asbestos boards at the price given in the proposal, 
but all other expenses attendant upon making the joint shall be 
included in the price per cubic yard of concrete. 

Steel in Reinforcement. Rods for reinforcing concrete shall 
be of steel of some approved shape specially formed for that 
purpose and designed to secure an interlocking bond between 
the concrete and the steel. If the rods are twisted, the twists 
shall be made cold and shall be sufficient to give one complete 
turn in a length equal to 6 times the least diameter of the bar. 

Imbedded Stone. If the Contractor shall so elect, approved 
hard stone not exceeding 6 to 8 feet may be imbedded in the 
foundation concrete ; similar stone, but not larger than 2 cubic 



48 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

feet each, may be imbedded in the neat work. The stones shall 
be thoroughly cleaned and placed so as to be entirely surrounded 
by concrete, and shall not be closer than 6 inches to any face of 
the work. In the neat work, the stones shall be imbedded so as 
to form dowels bonding each day's work. 

Concrete Deposited under Water. In case it is found neces- 
sary to lay concrete under Avater, approved appliances shall be 
used to insure its being deposited with as little injury as possible. 

Waterproofing 

Percolation of Water to be Prevented. It is the very essence 
of these specifications to secure an underground structure which 
shall be entirely free from the percolation of ground water or 
outside water, to which end construction shall be carried out 
as follows : 

Preparation of Foundations. After the soil has been exca- 
vated to the required depth and dressed off to a true grade as 
directed by the Engineer, there shall be laid a bed of concrete 
of the proportions herein described, and of such thickness as (in 
the judgment of the Engineer) the local conditions demand. On 
such bed, which shall be made as level and smooth as possible 
on the top surface, there shall be spread a layer of hot asphalt, 
and on such asphalt there shall be immediately laid sheets or 
rolls of felt, all of the quality hereinafter described ; another layer 
of hot asphalt shall be spread over the felt; another layer of 
felt laid, and so on until not less than 2 such layers of felt 
nor more than 6 be laid, with asphalt between each layer, and 
asphalt beneath and on top of the whole. On top of the upper 
surface of asphalt, the remainder of the concrete as called for 
by the contract drawings shall be put in place. In dry open soil 
the felt in the floor concrete may be omitted, the base course of 
concrete being covered with one good layer of asphalt. In rock 
excavation, where the same is dry and above water level, both 
the felt and the asphalt in the floor may be omitted. 

Side-Wall Construction. When the I-beam columns of the 
side walls are set and secured permanently in place, the concrete 
composing the side walls shall be rammed in place in such manner 
that the back or outer face is flush with the outer flanges of the 
columns. On such outer face hot asphalt shall be brushed and 
felt spread in alternate layers, in the same manner as described 
for the foundations, and the backing of concrete shall then be 
added, as shown by the plans. Instead of constructing the side 
walls with the waterproofing as described above, the Contractor 
may build in dry open soils, if permitted by the Engineer and if 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 49 

no additional width of excavation is required for sewers or other 
purposes, a 4-inch brick wall supported at the back by the trench 
sheathing, laid in cement mortar or hot asphalt, and at a distance 
of at least 2 inches in the clear from the line of the exterior faces 
of the side-wall beams; and then he may attach to it the layers 
of waterproofing material as described above, and ram around the 
beams and against the waterproofing surface the concrete com- 
posing the side walls. Under similar conditions in dry rock 
excavation, the rock may be excavated so that no projecting 
point comes within 3 inches of the line of the exterior face of the 
side-wall beams; then the rough surface shall be made smooth 
with a plaster of concrete, and on such smooth surface the water- 
proofing material shall be spread; and then the concrete of the 
side walls may be rammed against the same in the manner 
described above. 

Roof Construction. The roof of the structure shall be treated 
in a similar manner by finishing the jack arches to such height as 
may be directed by the Engineer, spreading the asphalt and felt 
in alternate layers, and then adding a cover of concrete, complet- 
ing the roof as called for by the Contract Drawings. 

Continuous Waterproof Envelope. By the arrangement above 
described there will be a continuous sheet of asphalt and felt 
imbedded within the concrete of the bottom, top, and both sides, 
and completely enveloping the structure. 

Quality of Asphalt. The asphalt used shall be the best grade 
of Bermudez, Alcatraz, or lake asphalt of equal quality, and shall 
comply with the following requirements: 

The asphalt shall be a natural asphalt or a mix- 
ture of natural asphalts, containing in its refined 
state not less than 95 per cent of natural bitumen 
soluble in rectified carbon bisulphide or in chloro- 
form. The remaining ingredients shall be such as 
not to exert an injurious effect on the work. Not 
less than two-thirds of the total bitumen shall be 
soluble in petroleum naphtha of 70° Baume or in 
acetone. The asphalt shall not lose more than 4 per 
cent of its weight when maintained for 10 hours at a 
temperature of 300° Fahrenheit. 

Coal Tar Prohibited. The use of coal tar, so-called artificial 
asphalts, or other products susceptible to injury from the action 
of water, will not be permitted on any portion of the work, or in 
any mixtures to be used. 

Quality of Felt. The felt used in waterproofing such part of 
the structure as is below ground water level shall be composed 



50 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

of asbestos or other equally nonperishable material dipped in 
asphalt and weighing not less than 10 pounds to the square of 
100 feet. The felt used in other parts of the structure shall be 
the same as the above, or of the best quality of coal tar felt 
weighing not less than 15 pounds to the square of 100 feet ; except 
that, if the latter be used, one layer more of it will be required 
than of the former. All felt shall be subject to the approval of 
the Engineer. 

Surfaces to be Smooth. The surfaces to be waterproofed shall 
be smooth, without projecting stones, or made smooth where 
necessary by a coating of mortar made of one portion Natural 
cement to one portion sand, and should be dry before the asphalt 
is applied. 

Artificial Drying. Means for artificially drying the surface 
of concrete may be taken by the Contractor by blowing warm air 
*over it, or as otherwise permitted by the Engineer, but not until 
the concrete has had at least 48 hours in which to set. 
•ti ' No Cracks or Blowholes. Each layer of asphalt fluxed as 
directed by the Engineer must completely and entirely cover the 
surface on which it is spread, without cracks or bloAvholes. 
'Felt to be Carefully Laid. The felt must be rolled out into 
the asphalt while the latter is still hot, and pressed against it so 
as to insure its being completely stuck to the asphalt over its 
entire surface. Great care should be taken that all joints in the 
felt are well broken ; that the ends of the rolls of the bottom layer 
be carried up on the inside of the layers on the sides; and that 
those of the roof be carried down on the outside of the layers on 
the sides, so as to secure a full lap of at least 3 feet. Especial 
care must be taken with this detail. 

Skilled Men. None but competent men, especially skilled in 
work of this kind, shall be employed to lay asphalt and felt. 

Top Surface of Asphalt not to be Broken. When the finishing 
layer of concrete is laid over or next to the waterproofing 
material, care must be taken not to break, tear, or injure in any 
way the outer surface of the asphalt. 

Number of Layers of Felt. The number of layers of felt on 
the sides and under the floor shall in no case be less than 2 in 
ground that is quite dry; and where there is a water pressure 
against the masonry equal to 12 feet, there shall not be less than 
6 layers. Where the water pressure is less than 12 feet, or where 
the ground is damp, such number of layers between 3 and 6 shall 
be used as the Engineer may direct. The number of layers of 
felt on the roof shall be not less than 3 of asphalted asbestos or 4 
of tarred felt. 

Bricks Dipped in Asphalt. At any point where the Contract 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 51 

Drawings and the Engineer permit, the Contractor may lay, 
instead of the asphalt and felt above described, one or more 
courses of bricks dipped in hot asphalt of the above described 
quality, and laid while the coating of asphalt is still hot. 

Asphaltic Concrete. In foundations, the Contractor may lay, 
if he prefer, instead of the ordinary concrete with the layer of 
waterproofing material, as above described, a bed of asphaltic 
concrete, composed of broken stone of the qualities previously 
described for concrete, heated in a suitable heater to such proper 
temperature as the Engineer may direct and, when so heated, 
have added thereto the melted asphalt of the quality as described 
above, in such proportion as to insure a covering of each particle 
of stone with asphalt; the whole mass shall then be thoroughly 
mixed and incorporated in a suitable mixer. Such asphaltic con- 
crete shall be spread in place and thoroughly rolled and com- 
|>ressed, so that it will present a smooth even surface that will 
be impervious to water. No asphalt shall be heated to exceed a 
temperature of 325° Fahrenheit. 

Waterproofing — When Omitted. In masonry-lined structures 
where there is no steel wojrk and the ground is dry, the regular 
waterproofing may be omitted, but in that case in arched-cut and 
cover work the extrados of the arch shall be coated with hot 
asphalt of the quality described, or the best grade of refined 
Trinidad asphalt. 

Leaky Masonry to be Rebuilt. Any masonry that is found to 
leak at any time prior to the completion of this work shall be 
cut out and the leak stopped, if so ordered by the Engineer. 

LUMBER 

Specifications. All lumber shall be sound, straight grained, 
and free from excessive sap, loose or rotten knots, wind shakes, 
or any other defect that would impair its strength or durability. 
It shall be sawed or hewed perfectly straight to exact dimensions, 
with full corners and square edges. 

All long-leaf yellow pine shall be first-class Southern long- 
leaf yellow pine, sawed true and out of wind, full size, free from 
wind shakes, large or loose knots, or other defects impairing its 
strength or durability, and equal in quality to the grade of 
* in ' ' Interstate Rules of 1905, for Classifi- 
cation and Inspection of Yellow Pine Lumber". 

All framing shall be done in a thoroughly workmanlike man- 
ner and both material and workmanship shall be subject to the 



* Insert here the class of inspection desired, that is, Standard, Merchantable, 
or Prime. See "Specifications for Classification and Inspection of Lumber", 



52 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

inspection and approval of, or rejection by, the Engineer. Only 
the timber actually called for in the plans shall be estimated and 
paid for. No allowance shall be made for waste. 

INTERSTATE RULES OF 1905 FOR THE CLASSIFICATION AND 
INSPECTION OF YELLOW PINE LUMBER 

EFFECTIVE ON AND AFTER FEBRUARY 1, 1905 

General Rules 

All the lumber must be sound commercial long-leaf yellow pine (pine com- 
bining large coarse knots with coarse grain is excluded under these rules), 
well manufactured, full to size, saw-butted, and free from the following defects : 
Unsound, loose, and hollow knots, wormholes and knotholes, and through shakes 
or round shakes that show on the surface. It shall be square-edged, unless 
otherwise specified. 

A through shake is hereby defined to be a fissure through, or fissures 
connected from side to side, edge to edge, or side to edge. 

In the measurement of dressed lumber, the width and thickness of the 
lumber before dressing must be taken; less than 1 inch thick shall be meas- 
ured as 1 inch. 

The measurement of wane shall always apply to the lumber in the 
rough. 

Where the terms ' ' one-half heart ' * and ' ' two-thirds heart ' ' are used, they 
shall be construed as referring to the area of the face on which measured. 

In the dressing of lumber, when not otherwise specified, one-eighth inch 
shall be taken off by each planer cut. 

Classification 

♦ Flooring. Flooring shall embrace 4, 5, and 6 quarter inches in thick- 
ness by 3 to 6 inches in width, excluding IJ X 6. For example: 1 X 3, 4, 
5, and 6; li X 3, 4, 5, and 6; 1^ X 3, 4, and 5. 

Boards. Boards shall embrace all thicknesses under 1^ inches by over 

6 inches wide. For example: f, 1, 1^, and If inches thick by over 6 inches 
wide. 

Plank. Plank shall embrace all sizes from 1^ to under 6 inches in 
thickness by 6 inches and over in width. For example: IJ, 2, 2^, 3, 3i, 4, 
4J, 5, 5i, 5J by 6 inches and over in width. 

Scantling. Scantling shall embrace all sizes exceeding 1^ inches and 
under 6 inches in thickness, and from 2 to under 6 inches in width. For 
example: 2 X 2, 2 X 3, 2 X 4, 2 X 5, 3 X 3, 3 X 4, 3 X 5, 4 X 4, 4 X 5, and 
5X5 inches. 

Dimension. Dimension sizes shall embrace all sizes 6 inches and up in 
thickness by 6 inches and up in width. For example: 6 X 6, 6 X 7, 7 X 7, 

7 X 8, 8 X 9, and up. 

Stepping. Stepping shall embrace 1 to 2^ inches in thickness by 7 
inches and up in width. For example: 1, IJ, 1^, 2, and 2A X 7, and up in 
width. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 53 

Rough Edge or Flitch. Rough edge or flitch shall embrace all sizes 1 
inch and up in thickness by 8 inches and up in width, sawed on 2 sides only. 
For example: 1, 1^, 2, 3, 4, and up thick by 8 inches and up wide, sawed on 
2 sides only. 

Inspection 

Standard. All lumber shall be sound. Sap is no objection and wane 
may be allowed one-eighth of the width of the piece measured across the face of 
the wane, extending one-fourth of the length on one corner, or its equivalent on 
two or more corners, provided that not over 10 per cent of the pieces of 
any one size shall show such wane. 

Merchantable. All sizes under 9 inches shall show some heart the 
entire length on one side; sizes 9 inches and over shall show some heart 
the entire length on two opposite sides. Wane may be allowed one-eighth of the 
width of the piece measured across the face of the wane, and extending 
one-fourth of the length of the piece on one corner or its equivalent on two or 
more corners, provided that not over 10 per cent of the pieces of any one size 
shall show such wane. 

Prime. Flooring. Flooring shall show one heart face, free from 
through or round shakes or knots exceeding 1 inch in diameter, or more 
than 4 in a board on the face side. 

Boards. Boards 7 inches and under in width shall show one heart face; 
over 7 inches in width, they shall show two-thirds heart on both sides, all free 
from round or through shakes, large or unsound knots. 

FlaiiTc. Plank 7 inches and under in width shall show one heart face; 
over 7 inches in width, they shall show two-thirds heart on both sides, all free 
from round or through shakes, large or unsound knots. 

Scantling. Scantling shall show three corners heart, free from through or 
round shakes or unsound knots. 

Dimension Sizes. All square lumber shall show two-thirds heart on two 
sides, and not less than one-half heart on two other sides. Other sizes shall 
show two-thirds heart on face and show heart two-thirds of length on edges, 
excepting when the width exceeds the thickness by 3 inches or over; then it 
shall show heart on the edge for one-half the length. 

Stepping. Stepping shall show 3 corners heart, free from shakes and all 
knots exceeding one-half inch in diameter and not more than 6 in a board. 

Rough Edge or Flitch. Eough edge or flitch shall be sawed from good 
heart timber and shall be measured in the middle, on the narrow face, free 
from injurious shakes or unsound knots. 

Wane shall be allowed on not over 5 per cent of the pieces in any one 
size, as on merchantable quality. 

TERRA COTTA DRAIN PIPE FOR CULVERTS 

The Contractor shall furnish and lay vitrified terra cotta 
pipe, according to place, size, and length, as shoAvn on the plans 
and profiles, or as ordered by the Engineer. 

Quality. The terra cotta pipe shall be of standard lengths 
and quality, double strength, made of the best material, thor- 



54 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

oughly and perfectly burned, of homogeneous texture, without 
imperfections, and well glazed, so that its surfaces shall be 
smooth, hard, and even. The pipe shall be straight, not varying 
more than one-eighth inch from a straight line per foot of length ; 
true to form; of full diameter throughout; of a thickness at least 
equal to that of double strength standard sewer pipe and of the 
same diameter; and it may have either socket or sleeve joints. The 
bells shall be of standard depth, and large enough to receive to 
their full depth all spigot ends without clipping and to leave a 
space of not less than J of an inch all around for cement. 

Laying. All pipe shall be laid true to line and grade given 
by the Engineer, and on good bottom. Unless timber and con- 
crete foundations are indicated on the profile, an excavation of 
at least 6 inches in depth to receive the pipe shall be made to 
conform to the shape of the pipe. The pipe shall be laid in such 
length as to extend at least 1 foot beyond the foot of the slopes 
of the finished embankment unless otherwise ordered by the 
Engineer. 

Joints. The space between the pipe and the socket shall be 
as uniform as possible, and shall be made water-tight by first 
using a small jute gasket, thoroughly saturated with neat cement, 
carefully coiled and calked in the bell of the pipe. The joints 
shall then be thoroughly filled with cement mortar, made of equal 
parts of cement and clean sharp sand, thoroughly mixed dry, 
water enough being afterwards added to give it the proper con- 
sistency, and the mortar shall be used as soon as made ; after this 
the joint shall be carefully wiped inside and out, and pointed. 

Interior of Pipe. The interior of the pipe shall be carefully 
cleaned of all dirt, cement, or superfluous materials of every 
description. 

The Contractor shall make good all defects and remove any 
foreign matter which may have been left in or otherwise intro- 
duced into the pipe, before the final acceptance of the work. 

Payment. Drain pipe shall be estimated and paid for by the 
linear foot in place, the price to include the pipe, the hauling, and 
placing as specified. "Where shown on the profile, end walls for 
the drain pipe shall be constructed of masonry in accordance with 
the standard plans for end walls for pipe culverts, the concrete 
for same to be paid for at the price given in the proposal for No. 2 
concrete. 

CAST=IRON PIPE CULVERTS 

The Contractor shall furnish and lay cast-iron water pipe 
according to place, size, and length as shown on the plans and 
profiles. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 55 

Quality. All cast-iron pipe shall be free from such defects 
and imperfections as shall, in the opinion of the Engineer, make 
it unacceptable for use as pipe culverts, and it shall be of standard 
thickness and length. Where it is necessary to use cut pipe, the 
cutting shall be done in such a manner as to leave a smooth end 
at right angles to the axis of the pipe. 

Laying. All pipe shall be laid true to line and grade, and in 
such lengths that the ends of the pipe shall extend not less than 
1 foot beyond the foot of the slopes of the finished embankments, 
unless otherwise ordered by the Engineer. 

Blocking. Each length of pipe shall be laid upon blocking 
set at 3 different places along its length. It shall be of sound 
3- by 10-incli planking and shall have a length equal at least 
to the diameter of the pipe. Wedges shall be placed on the 
blocking to hold the pipe in position. The blocks shall be bedded 
firmly and evenly across the line of pipe and, when any block 
has been sunk too deep, additional blocking shall be placed to 
bring the pipe to the required grade. 

Joints. The space between the pipe and the socket or collar 
shall be as uniform as possible, and shall be made water-tight by 
being thoroughly filled with Portland cement mortar, made of 
equal parts of an approved cement and clean sharp sand. 

Interior of Pipe. The interior of the pipe shall be carefully 
cleaned of all dirt, mortar, or superfluous materials of every 
description. The Contractor shall make good all defects and 
remove any foreign matter which may have been left in or other- 
wise introduced into the pipe, before the final acceptance of the 
work. 

Payment. Cast-iron pipe shall be estimated and paid for by 
the linear foot in place, the price to include the pipe, the hauling, 
and the placing as specified. Where shown on the profile, end 
walls for the pipe shall be constructed of masonry in accordance 
with the standard plans for end walls for pipe culverts. 

STRUCTURAL STEEL FOR BUILDINGS* 

Steel. All steel may be made by either the Bessemer or the 
open-hearth process, except rivet steel and steel for plates or 
angles over J inch in thickness w^hich are to be punched, and 
these will be made by the open-hearth process. The finished 
products shall be straight and free from flaws and shall have 
clean smooth surfaces. 



'ee specification for steel under Bridges, p. 65, as another example. 



56 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Schedule of Requirements. The requirements are as follows 



Chemical and Physical Properties 



Phosphorous maximum, Bessemer . . . 
Phosphorous maximum, open-hearth, 
Sulphur 



Tensile strength, lbs. per sq. in. . . 
Elastic limit, minimum per sq. in. 



Elongation — minimum per cent in 8 in, 

Elongation in 2 in. minimum per cent. . 
Character of fracture , 



Structiral 



0.10 per cent 
0.06 per cent 



55,000-65,000 

i tens. str. 
f ], 400,000 



1 tens. str. 
22 
silky 



Rivet 



0.06 per cent 
0.045 per cent 

Desired 
48,000-58,000 

^ tens. str. 
1,400,000 
tens. str. 



silky 



Bend Tests. The test specimens for plates, shapes, and bars 
shall bend cold through 180 degrees without cracking on the 
outside of the bent portion, as follow^s : For material J inch to and 
including IJ inches in thickness, around a pin the diameter of 
which is equal to the thickness of the specimen ; and for material 
over IJ inches in thickness, around a pin the diameter of which 
is equal to twdce the thickness of the specimen. For pins 
and rollers the test specimen shall bend cold through 180 
degrees around a 1-inch pin, without cracking on the outside of 
the bent portion. For rivet steel the test specimen shall bend 
cold through 180 degrees, flat on itself, without cracking on the 
outside of the bent portion. 

Annealing" Tests. Material which is to be used without anneal- 
ing or further treatment shall be tested in the condition in w^hich 
it comes from the rolls. When material is to be annealed or other- 
wise treated before use, the specimen representing such material 
shall be similarly treated before testing. 

Test Pieces. For each melt there shall be furnished by the 
Contractor, properly prepared, free of charge to the railway 
company, at least 1 tensile and 1 bending test. 

Stock Material. No material shall be taken from stock with- 
out the consent of the Inspector. Such material shall be stamped 
with the original melt number and shall not have more than 
surface rust. In any case in which the rust has eaten into the 
material, the piece shall not be accepted. 

Shop Work. All workmanship shall be first class in every par- 
ticular and all parts shall be neatly finished. 

STEEL BRIDGE SPECIFICATIONS 

When specifications are contained in letter of invitation, or 
shown on accompanying plan, they shall supersede those herein 
which conflict therewith. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 57 

Should any question arise as to the interpretation of these 

specifications, the decision of the Chief Engineer of the 

Company shall determine the matter. 

RAILROAD BRIDGES 
General Clauses 

Material. All bridges shall be constructed of rolled steel ; but 
cast iron or cast steel may be used in the machinery of draw- 
bridges, and wrought iron for laterals and unimportant members. 









^ 0)0)^0 (h (h A (h zch r xxx ^ ^^n <\. 






Tra,» S,5D0 
eriin.ft. 



# 



r 



/o 



Si-o 



SI -o 



Fig. 1. Live Load Diagram for Railway Bridges. 

Live Load. All structures shall be designed to carry, in addi- 
tion to their own weight, the moving load shown in Fig. 1 or 
Fig. 2, moving simultaneously 



in the same 



Q 



3 O 




7-0 



Q 



on each truck 
direction. 

For transverse trough or 
buckled plate floors, the live 
load shall be taken at 16,000 
pounds per foot of track. 

Dead Load. The dead load 
shall consist of the weight of 
the metal in the structure and Fig. 2. 
an assumed weight of 500 
pounds per lineal foot of single track for the ordinary wooden 
floor, the rails, etc. For ballast floors the following weights 
shall be assumed : 



. ^-^ , 



Live Load Diagram for Railway 
Bridges. 



Ballast 120 lbs. per cubic foot 

Concrete 140 lbs. per cubic foot 

Asphalt 90 lbs. per cubic foot 

Lumber 54 lbs. per cubic foot 

Wind Pressure. For girder bridges the wind pressure against 
each chord of the bridge shall be taken at 200 pounds per lineal 
foot. In addition to this, on the chord which carries the track, a 



58 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

wind pressure of 400 pounds per lineal foot, with its point of 
application 7J feet above the rail, shall be taken as a moving 
load. 

For viaducts and trestle towers, on the unloaded structure, 
the wind pressure shall be taken at 50 pounds per square foot of 
the projected surface of two trusses and two sides of towers on 
the vertical plane through the axis of the structure ; on the loaded 
structure, the pressure shall be taken at 30 pounds per square 
foot of this same surface and, in addition, the moving wind load 
specified for girder bridges. 

For determining the requisite anchorage for the loaded struc- 
ture, the train shall be assumed to weigh 600 pounds per foot. 

Momentum of Train. The horizontal force developed by sud- 
denly stopping a train shall be taken at one-fifth of the moving 
load. 

Centrifugal Force. The centrifugal force shall be taken at 
2 per cent of the moving load for each degree of curvature of the 
track — all the tracks being loaded. Centrifugal force shall be 
considered live load. 

Spans. The spans assumed for calculation shall be as fol- 
lows : For pin bridges, the distance between centers of end pins ; 
for riveted bridges, the distance between centers of end bearings ; 
for floor beams, the distance between centers of trusses; for 
stringers, the distanc^e between centers of floor beams. 

Depth. The depths assumed for calculation shall be as fol- 
lows: For pin bridges, the distance between centers of chord 
pins ; for riveted bridges, the distance between centers of gravity 
of flanges. 

Stress Sheets and Plans. All parts shall be so designed that 
the stresses coming upon them can be accurately calculated. 

Bidders shall submit with their bids a general plan and com- 
plete stress sheet, showing the loads used and the separate stress 
produced on each member by each of the foregoing loads and 
forces, and the sizes and arrangement of parts in sufficient detail 
for comparison with other plans. 

Upon award of contract the Contractor shall furnish in dupli- 
cate to the Chief Engineer of the railway company blueprints 
of complete shop and erection plans showing all details, which 
shall be subject to the approval of the said Chief Engineer. Upon 
completion of the work all tracings shall be delivered to the Chief 
Engineer of the railway company. Tracings shall be of uniform 
size, and not larger than 30 inches by 42 inches. 

Clearance. The gage of the track is 4 feet 8J inches, and the 
distance between the tracks, center to center, is 13 feet. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 59 




14-0 



The vertical clearance for through bridges shall be 22 feet 
above the top of the rails. 

For single-track through bridges, on tangent with rails at the 
same level, the lateral clear width at the top 
of rails shall not be less than 10 feet 6 inches ; 
from a height of 2 feet to a height of 17^ 
feet, it shall not be less than 14 feet; and 
at a height of 22 feet, it shall not be less than 
6 feet (see Fig. 3). 

For double-track bridges and for 
curves and elevation of outside rail, the lat- 
eral clear widths shall be increased accord- 
ingly. 

Wood Floor. The wood floor shall be 
shown as a standard bridge floor, plan 
dated 

The wood floor shall be continued over all piers and back 
walls. 

Unit Stresses and Sections 

To provide for impact and vibrations the stresses produced by 
the live load shall be increased by the formula 



lO 



Top of >?ai/'-i 




Fig. 3. Vertical Sec- 
tion of Clearance Dimen- 
sions on Bridges. 



1 = 8 



300 



L + 300 



where 7 = amount to be added to the live load stress 
/S^ ^ calculated live load stress 

L^ length in feet of the loading which produces the maxi- 
mum stress in the member 

The unit stresses produced by the foregoing loads and forces, 
including impact, shall not exceed the following values : 

tension, net section, 15,000 pounds per square inch 

15,000 pounds per square inch 



compression, 



1 + 



I' 



13,500r2 

where Z = length of member, center to center of connections, in 
inches 
r=: least radius of gyration in inches 

No compression member shall have a length exceeding 100 
times its least radius of gyration, except that wind bracing may 
have a length equal to 120 times its least radius of gyration. 



60 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Alternate Stress. Members subject to alternate tension and 
compression shall have a net sectional area equal to the sum of the 
areas required for the separate stresses. 

Counters. When in any panel the shear from the live load, 
including impact, exceeds seven-tenths of the opposite shear from 
the dead load, the oblique equivalent of this excess shall be provided 
for. No counter rod, however, shall have a smaller section than 1 
square inch. 

Transverse Loading. In deck truss bridges, when the cross- 
ties rest on the chord, the sum of the direct thrust per square 
inch and three-fourths of the fiber stress per square inch pro- 
duced by the maximum load on the chord panel considered as a 
supported beam — the pins being in the neutral axis of the section 
— shall not exceed the allowable compressive stress, the proper 
amount of impact being added to each kind of loading. 

Should the pins be out of the neutral axis, the additional stress 
thus produced shall be provided for. 

The sum of the direct stress per square inch on any member, 
and the fiber stress per square inch produced by its own weight, 
shall not exceed the allowed direct stress per square inch by more 
than 10 per cent. 

Shop Rivets and Pins. The shearing stress shall not exceed 
11,000 pounds per square inch of section; the pressure on the 
bearing surface (diameter X thickness of bearing) shall not 
exceed 22,000 pounds per square inch ; the fiber stress due to 
bending, considering the centers of the bearings at the points of 
application of the stresses, shall not exceed 22,000 pounds per 
square inch. 

For field-driven rivets a deduction of 20 per cent from the 
above values shall be made. 

The size of the rivets before driving shall be considered their 
effective size for calculation. • 

Plate Girders. The bending moment shall be considered as 
resisted solely by the flanges, w4th no portion of the w^eb as- 
sisting. 

The shear in w^ebs of plate girders shall not exceed 10,000 
pounds per square inch. But no web shall be less than three- 
eighths of an inch thick. The entire end shear shall be considered 
as transferred into the flange angles in a distance equal to the 
depth of web. The pitch of rivets connecting the web to a top 
flange supporting the track shall not exceed 3 inches. 

When the thickness of web plate is less than one-thirtieth of 
the unsupported distance between flange angles, stiffeners shall be 
riveted on both sides of the web, wdth fillers as thick as the chord 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 61 

angles, and with close bearings against both flanges. For girders 
30 feet long and less, the stiffeners shall be 3J inches by 3 inches 
by f -inch angles ; for girders 90 feet long, they shall be 5 inches by 
3 J inches by |-inch angles; and for intermediate lengths, inter- 
mediate sized angles. 

Generally, the stiffeners shall be placed at intervals equal to 
the depth of the web, with a maximum limit of 5 feet. 

Generally, there shall be two pairs of stiffeners over each bed 
plate, their combined sectional area in square inches being equal 
to the total end shear in pounds, including impact, divided 
by 15,000. 

Net Section. To obtain the net section of the bottom flange of 
plate girders or other members, all the rivet holes in any section, 
taken ^ inch larger in diameter than the rivet to be used, shall be 
deducted. 

The top and bottom flanges shall have the same gross sec- 
tional area. 

Cover plates shall be at least 12 inches longer than the net 
calculated length. "When over 14 inches wide there shall be at 
least 4 lines of rivets, with pitch not exceeding 9 inches in any of 
the lines. 

Sway Bracing. Efficient sway bracing and lateral bracing on 
top and bottom flanges shall be provided. Generally this bracing 
shall be of the same sized angles as the intermediate stiffeners. 
The unsupported length of flange shall not exceed 12 times its 
width, except as noted for track stringers. 

Track Stringers and Floor Beams. Track stringers of double 
track through bridges and deck plate girders shall generally be 
spaced 6 feet, center to center, under each track. For single 
track through truss bridges the stringers shall be 8 feet, center 
to center. 

Track stringers shall be riveted into the floor beams and shall 
bear upon the bottom flange of floor beams, or upon brackets 
which bear upon the bottom flange of floor beams ; but the value 
of this bearing shall not be considered in computing the number 
of rivets required in the stringer connections. 

Floor beams with riveted end connections shall bear on the 
bottom flange of the main girder, or on a bracket, in all cases 
where such bearing can be provided ; but the value of this bearing 
shall not be considered in computing the number of rivets 
required in the connection. In case such bearing cannot be pro- 
vided, then the number of rivets in the connection shall be 25 per 
cent more than the computed number. 

In the connection angles between the stringers and floor 
beams, and other similar angles or plates, the shear shall not 



62 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

exceed 7000 pounds per square inch; but no connection angle 
shall be less than five-eighths of an inch thick. 

When the length of stringer exceeds 20 times the Avidth of 
flange, lateral bracing shall be provided between the flanges. 

The webs of floor beams shall be of the same thickness at 
center of beams as at the ends. 

Minimum Thickness. The minimum thickness of metal used 
shall be three-eighths of an inch except for lattice bars or for 
fillers where a lesser thickness is required. 

Combined Stresses. In case the sum of the stresses per square 
inch in the chords and end posts of truss bridges, or the posts of 
trestle towers — due to the live load including impact, the dead 
load, and the wind — shall exceed 19,000 pounds per square inch 
properly reduced for compression, the section shall be increased 
until this limit is not exceeded. 

In the end posts of through bridges the sum of these stresses 
added to the maximum fiber bending stress per square inch, pro- 
duced by the portal bracing, shall not exceed 20,000 pounds. 

Should the stresses be reversed in any case, proper provision 
shall be made for such stresses. 

Portals and Diagonal Bracing. All through spans with top 
lateral bracing shall have riveted portal bracing composed of 
angles, latticed as deep as the headroom will allow, rigidly con- 
nected to the end posts. 

When the height of the truss exceeds 25 feet, an approved 
system of overhead diagonal bracing shall be provided at each 
panel point. 

Deck bridges shall have diagonal bracing at each panel point 
proportioned to resist the unequal loading of the trusses; the 
position of the track, and the action of the wind and the cen- 
trifugal force being considered. 

Pony trusses and through plate girders shall be stayed by 
knee braces or gussets at each floor beam or transverse strut, and 
at the ends. 

No lateral or diagonal rod shall have a smaller area than 1 
square inch. 

Expansion Rollers, etc. All bridges exceeding 75 feet in 
length shall be anchored to the masonry at one end, and shall 
have at the other end nests of turned friction rollers, not less 
than 4 inches in diameter, running between planed surfaces. The 
pressure per lineal inch on these rollers shall not exceed 1200\/rf 
pounds — d being the diameter of the roller in inches. 

For bridges less than 75 feet in length one end shall be free 
to move on planed surfaces. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 63 

Variations in temperature of 150° F. shall be provided for. 

Provision shall be made at movable ends against side motion. 

Bed Plates. The pressure of bed plates on the masonry shall 
not exceed 400 pounds per square inch. When two spans rest on 
the same masonry, a continuous rolled plate f inch thick shall 
extend under the adjacent bearings. 

All bed plates shall have efficient stone bolts fastened with 
sulphur or cement. 

Joints and Splices. All joints in riveted work, whether in ten- 
sion or compression, shall be fully spliced. 

Chord sections shall be connected at abutting ends by splices 
sufficient to hold them true to position, and to transmit the shear- 
ing stress at the joint. 

"Web plates of girders shall be spliced at all joints by a plate 
on each side, capable of transmitting the entire shear through 
the splice rivets. 

Rivets. The pitch of rivets in the direction of the stress shall 
not exceed 6 inches, nor sixteen times the thickness of the thinnest 
outside plate connected, nor be less than three times the diameter 
of the rivet. At right angles to the stress, the pitch shall not 
exceed thirty times the thickness of the thinnest outside plate. 

At the ends of compression members the pitch shall not exceed 
four diameters of the rivet for a length equal to twice the width 
of the member. 

The distance from the edge of any piece to the center of rivet 
hole generally shall be not less than IJ inches, nor more than 
5 inches, nor more than 8 times the thickness of the plate. 

Tie Plates. All segments of compression members connected 
by latticing only shall have tie plates at each end, the rivets and 
net section of which shall be sufficient to transfer one-half the total 
maximum stress borne by tlie segment, and the thickness of which 
shall be not less than one-fiftieth of the distance between the rivets 
connecting them to the compression member. In no case, however, 
shall the length of the tie plate be less than its width across the 
segments. 

Latticing. The open sides of compression members shall be 
stayed by tie plates at the ends, and by intermediate diagonal 
latticing. 

Generally, the thickness of single lattice bars shall not be less 
than one-fiftieth, and the thickness of double bars, connected by a 
rivet at their intersection, shall not be less than one-sixtieth of the 
distance between rivets connecting them to a member. The in- 
clination of lattice bars with long axis of members shall approxi- 
mate 60 degrees for single lattice and 45 degrees for double lattice. 



64 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



and the distance between points of connection of the latticing 
along a segment shall not be more than 8 times the least width of 
the segment. The width of lattice shall be as follows : 



Length of Lattice 


Width 


Under 10 inches 
Under 15 inches 
Under 20 inches 


2 inches 
2^ inches 
2J inches 



For the chords and end posts of truss bridges the lattice shall 
be generally 3 inches by seven-sixteenth inch. 

Pins. The members bearing against any pin shall be so 
packed as to produce the least bending moment upon the pin, 
and all vacant spaces must be filled with filling rings. 

All pins requiring driving shall be supplied wdth pilot nuts 
for use. in erection. 

Preference. Preference will be given to details which will be 
most accessible for inspection and painting. No closed sections 
will be allowed. 

Stiff lateral bracing shall be preferred for use between the 
chords which carry the floor. 

Preferably all sections shall be made symmetrical, and the 
pins placed in the neutral axis. Bending moments at connections 
shall be avoided as much as possible. 

Tension at the foot of trestle posts shall be avoided where 
practicable. 

Camber. Truss bridges with parallel chords shall be given a 
camber by making the panel lengths of the top chord longer 
than those of the bottom chord in the proportion of one-eighth of 
an inch to every 10 feet. 

In the wood floor one-half the camber shall be taken out unless 
otherwise directed. 

Bolts. When members are connected by bolts which transmit 
shearing stress, the holes shall be reamed parallel and the bolts 
turned to a driving fit. 

Screw Ends. In tension members with screw ends, the area 
at the base of the threads must be at least 15 per cent greater 
than that required in the body of the member. 

Upsetting, etc. The heads of eyebars and the enlarged parts 
of rods with screw ends shall be made by upsetting, rolling, or 
forging into shape. Welds in steel bars will not be allowed. In 
iron bars they will only be allowed to form the loops of laterals, 
counters, or sway rods. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



65 



Quality of Material 

Steel. All steel shall be made by the open-hearth process, and 
shall be uniform in quality. The finished products shall be 
straight, free from flaws, and have clean smooth surfaces. 

Identification of Material. Copies of all bills of material, ship- 
ping lists, and complete chemical analyses showing the amount of 
phosphorus, carbon, sulphur, and manganese shall be furnished 
by the Contractor free of charge. All material shall be plainly 
stamped with the number of the melt. Rivet and lattice steel 
and other small parts may be bundled, with the above marks on 
an attached metal tag. 

Schedule of Requirements. The requirements are as follows: 



Chemical and Physical 

PBOrERTIES 


Structural 
Steel 


Rivet Steel 


Steel 
Castings 


Phosphorous maximum. .. J . 

)Basic 

Ultiniate Tensile Strength per 
square inch 


.08 

.04 

Desired 

60,000 
% Ten. Str. 

1,500,000 


.04 
.04 
Desired 

50,000 
1/2 Ten. Str. 

1,500,000 


.08 

.05 

Not less than 

65,000 
.45 Ten. Str. 

18 
[Silky or fine 
^granular 


Elastic Limit not less than 

Elongation, minimum per cent 


Elongation, minimum per cent in 

2 inches 

Character of fracture 


Ult. Ten. Str. 


Ult. Ten. Str. 


Silky 


Silky 



Cold Bends, Samples of structural and rivet steel up to 
seven-eighths inch in thickness shall bend to close contact without 
fracture on the convex side. For greater thickness, sample shall 
bend 180 degrees to a curve of diameter equal to thickness of 
specimen, without fracture. 

Samples of cast steel 1 inch by one-half inch shall bend 90 
degrees around a diameter of 1 inch without fracture on outside. 

Tensile Tests. Tensile tests of steel showing an ultimate tensile 
strength within 5000 pounds of that desired will be considered 
satisfactory, except that if the ultimate strength varies more 
than 4000 pounds from that desired, a retest shall be made on 
the same gage which, to be acceptable, shall be within 5000 pounds 
of the desired ultimate. 

Chemical Analyses. Check chemical analyses shall be made 
from the finished material, if called for by the Chief Engineer, in 
which case an excess of 25 per cent above the required limits will 
be allowed. 

Material which is to be used without annealing or further 



• 66 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

treatment shall be tested in the condition in which it comes from 
the rolls. When material is to be annealed or otherwise treated 
before use, the specimen representing such material shall be simi- 
larly treated before testing. 

Drifting. ^Material punched as in ordinary practice, shall 
stand drifting until the diameter of the hole is increased 50 per 
cent without cracking in the periphery of the hole or in the 
external sheared or rolled edge. 

Test Pieces. For each melt there shall be furnished by the 
Contractor, properly prepared, free of charge to the railway 
company, at least one tensile and one bending test. Drifting 
tests shall be furnished occasionally during the progress of the 
work. 

In general, tests shall be selected to cover extreme gages, 
i Material will not be accepted on tests cut from pieces of radically 
' different size or section from that used in the work. 

Every test specimen shall be at least one-half square inch; in 
; area, and shall be planed, sawed, or turned with sides parallel, i 
• Plates. Plates up to 36 inches wide shall be rolled in a universal 

[ mill. Long plates shall not be more than one-half inch out of line 
; in a length of 20 feet, nor three-fourths inch in a length of 40 feet. 
I Variation in Gage. All shapes shall be rolled to gage. All 

r plates, both sheared and universal, shall be of specified gage on 
I edges. Shapes or plates 3 per cent less than thickness specified 
shall be rejected, except that in the case of plates 80 inches wide 
or over a variation of 5 per cent will be allowed. 

Stock Material. No material shall be taken from stock without 
' ' the consent of the Inspector. Such material must be stamped 
with the original melt number, and must not have more than a 
surface rust. If any piece of material sent either from the mill 
or stockyard is rusted when needed in the shop, this rust must be 
scraped off before the piece is punched. In any case in which the 
rust has eaten into the material, the piece will not be accepted. 
Full-Sized Eyehar Tests. Full-sized tests shall be ordered by 
the Engineer, and in general will be not more than 4 per cent of 
the total number of bars in the structure. 

The bars shall show an ultimate strength of not less than 
55,000 pounds per square inch ; an elastic limit of not less than 
one-half the ultimate strength ; and an elongation taken between 
the necks of the bars of not less than 12 per cent, for bars 20 feet 
and less between necks. For bars exceeding 20 feet, the elonga- 
tion shall be not less than 10 per cent. 

Fracture. In all full-sized tests, 75 per cent of the fractured 
area shall be silky, the remainder fine granular. 

Retests. If one bar of a lot breaks in the head but fulfills the 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 67 

above requirements, the lot shall not be rejected on that account. 
If several bars break in the head but fulfill the above require- 
ments, an additional bar for a retest shall be furnished by the 
Contractor free of cost to the railway company. If more than 
one-third of the total number of bars tested break in the head the 
entire lot of bars shall be rejected. 

Full-sized members tested to destruction shall be paid for by 
the Company at cost, less their scrap value, if they fulfill the 
requirements specified. If they do not, they shall be paid for by 
the Contractor. 

Cast Steel. All steel castings shall be practically free from 
blowholes and shall be thoroughly annealed. 

Wrought Iron. All wrought iron shall be tough, ductile, 
fibrous, and of uniform quality. Finished bars shall be perfectly 
wielded and have a smooth finish throughout, free from cinder 
spots, blisters, cracks, buckles, or imperfect edges. 

Test specimens shall show an ultimate strength of 50,000 
pounds per square inch, an elastic limit of at least 26,000 pounds 
per square inch, an elongation of at least 20 per cent in a length 
of 8 inches, and shall stand bending cold 180 degrees to a curve 
of diameter equal to twice the thickness of specimen, without 
sign of fracture. 

Cast Iron. Unless otherwise specified, all castings shall be 
tough gray iron, free from cracks, cinders, blowholes, or other 
imperfections, and of w^orkmanlike finish. 

Sample pieces 1 inch square, cast from the same heat of metal 
in sand molds, shall be capable of sustaining, on a clear span 
of 4 feet 6 inches, a central load of 500 pounds when tested in 
the rough bar. 

Timber. Unless otherwise specified, the timber shall be first- 
class Southern long-leaf yellow pine, sawed true and out of wind; 
full size ; free from wind shakes, large or loose knots, or other 
defects impairing its strength or durability; and equal in quality 
to grade of ''Prime", in Interstate Rules of 1905 for classification 
of yellow pine lumber. (See page 52.) 

Shop Work 

Workmanship. All workmanship shall be first class in every 
particular and all parts neatly finished. 

Straightening. All material shall be thoroughly straightened 
in the shop, before being laid off, by methods that will not injure 
it and, if bent by punching, shall be again straightened before 
bolting up. 

Punching. In all punched work the diameter of the die shall 



68 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

be not more than one-sixteenth inch greater than the diameter of 
the punch. 

All holes shall be perpendicular to the surface of the punched 
piece, and be clean-cut, without torn or ragged edges. 

Rivet holes shall be so accurately spaced and punched that, 
when the parts of a member are assembled, a rivet one-sixteenth 
inch less in diameter than the hole can be entered hot into the 
holes. Occasional variations shall be corrected by reaming. 

Reaming. Steel up to and including a thickness of five- 
eighths inch may be punched without subsequent reaming. Steel 
of greater thickness than five-eighths inch shall be drilled or 
punched one-eighth less than the diameter of the rivet and reamed 
to a diameter of one-sixteenth inch greater than the diameter of 
the rivet. The reaming of the rivet holes may be done after the 
various pieces have been punched and assembled, but every hole 
after reaming shall show that the reamer has everywhere touched 
the metal. Sheared edges and ends in all metal over five-eighths 
inch in thickness shall be planed at least one-eighth inch. 

Riveting. The rivet when driven shall completely fill the 
holes, have full round heads concentric with the rivet, of a height 
not less than three-fifths the diameter of the rivet (unless other- 
wise shown on the plans), and in full contact with the surface, or 
be countersunk when so required. 

Rivets shall be machine driven wherever possible, by machines 
capable of retaining the applied pressure after the upsetting is 
completed. Pneumatic hammers shall be used in preference to 
hand driving. 

Tightening rivets by calking or re-cupping will not be allowed. 

Finished Members. Built members, when finished, shall be 
true and free from twist, kinks, buckles, or open joints between 
the component pieces. 

Eyebars. Before boring, each eyebar shall be properly an- 
nealed and carefully straightened. They shall be free from 
flaws; of full thickness in the neck; the thickness of the heads 
shall not be more than one-sixteenth inch greater than the thick- 
ness of the bar; and the hole shall be in the center of the head 
and on the center line of the bar. No forge work shall be done 
on bars after they are bored. 

No variation from the calculated length between pinholes of 
more than one-sixty-fourth of an inch for each 25 feet will be 
allowed. Whenever bars are to be packed more than one-eighth 
of an inch to the foot of their length out of parallel with the axis 
of the structure, they shall be bent with a gentle curve until the 
head stands at right angles to the pin in their intended position 
before being bored. All bars belonging to the same panel shall be 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS • 69 

placed in a pile and shall allow the pins to pass through both ends 
at the same time without forcing. 

Pins and Pinholes. Pins shall be turned straight and smooth, 
and shall fit the pinholes within one-fiftieth of an inch for pins 4 
inches or less in diameter, and within one-thirty-second of an 
inch for larger pins. 

Pinholes shall be bored clean and smooth, to a true parallel 
with one another, wdthin one-thirty-second of an inch of the 
specified distance apart, center to center, and at right angles to 
the axis of the member, unless otherwise shown on drawings. 

Facings. Eyes of laterals, stirrups, sway rods, and counters 
shall be bored. 

All abutting surfaces in compression members shall be truly 
faced to even bearings. 

The ends of track stringers and floor beams shall be faced 
true and square. 

Reaming. All holes for field rivets except those for lateral 
and sway bracing connections shall be drilled to an iron template 
or reamed while the parts are temporarily put together. 

Shop Erection. Adjoining chord sections shall be fitted to- 
gether in the shop and all parts match marked; and when so 
fitted their abutting ends must be in full contact and the two 
sections in perfect alignment. 

Other parts of the structure shall be erected in the shop when 
so required by the Inspector. 

Rivets. In riveted steel work all rivets shall be of steel. 

General Annealing. All members or parts of members which 
have been partly heated or worked at blue temperatures shall 
be properly annealed. 

Painting 

Painting in Shop. Before leaving the shop all work shall be 
thoroughly cleaned from all loose scale and rust, and given one 
good coat of pure linseed oil, well woi^ked into joints and open 
spaces. 

In rivet work, the surface to come in contact shall be painted 
before riveting together. 

Parts which are not accessible for painting after erection 
shall have, in addition to the coat of oil, two coats of paint 
before erection. 

Painting After Erection. After erection, the entire structure, 
except the w^ood floor, shall be thoroughly and evenly painted 
with two coats of paint, by practical painters. The two coats 
shall be different in color. 



70 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

When work is delivered f . o. b., ready to be dropped into place, 
it shall be given only the above coat of oil before loading. 

Materials. The materials for the field paint will be furnished 
by the railway company to the Contractors at the freight station 
nearest the bridge at the following prices : For the paste, — 
( — ) cents per pound; for the Japan, — dollar and — cents ($ — ) 
per gallon, and for the linseed oil, — ( — ) cents per gallon. 

No material shall be painted or oiled when it is wet. 

Pins, pinholes, screw threads, and other machine-finished 
bearing surfaces shall be coated with white lead and tallow 
before leaving the shop. 

Inspection 

Inspection Facilities Furnished by Contractor. Due notice 
that material is ready for inspection shall always be given. 

All facilities for inspection of material and workmanship 
shall be furnished by the Contractor, and free access to any 
works in which any portion of the material is made shall be 
allowed. 

The Contractor shall furnish, free of cost, the use of an effi- 
cient testing machine at all mills where any of the material may 
be manufactured. 

Such specimens (prepared) as may be required for testing 
shall be promptly furnished, without charge, by the Contractor. 

No shop work shall be done on any material until it has been 
inspected and accepted. 

Copies of all shipping invoices from mills or shops shall be 
promptly furnished the Inspector. 

No material shall be loaded for shipment until it has been 
accepted by the Inspector. 

The acceptance by an Inspector of any material or workman- 
ship shall not prevent the rejection of the same, if it is afterwards 
discovered to be defective. 

Erection 

Previous to and during erection all material shall be kept 
clean, and shall be carefully handled, so as not to injure any 
of the parts. 

Replacing Bridge. In case of replacing a bridge, the Con- 
tractor shall carefully take down the old structure and neatly 
pile the material at some point near the bridge convenient for 
loading on cars. If the old bridge is to be erected again, special 
care shall be taken not to injure any of the parts, and the differ- 
ent pieces shall be plainly marked at connections by the Con- 
tractor, in order to facilitate re-erection. All material in the 
old structure shall remain the property of the railway company. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 71 

Staging and False Work. The Contractor shall furnish all 
staging and false work, and provide for carrying traffic during 
erection, and so prosecute his work as to interfere as little as 
possible with the traffic over the bridge, or under the bridge, if 
there should be any such. 

Any work affecting the safety of the track shall be sub- 
ject to the direction of the Division Superintendent of the 
„ Railway Company. 

Main Work. The Contractor shall furnish, erect, and adjust 
the entire structure, including the wooden floor, complete, ready 
for the rails. He shall also remove all false work after the 
erection is completed, and repair any damage produced by his 
operations. 

Watchmen. The Contractor shall provide watchmen and 
other safeguards during erection, and shall be responsible for 
any accident or damage to person or property arising from 
his negligence or default; and he shall comply with all laws, 
ordinances, and regulations of properly constituted authorities, 
should there be any such affecting the work. 

The Contractor shall be responsible for the work until it is 
finally completed and accepted by the Chief Engineer of the 
Railway Company. 

HIGHWAY BRIDGES 

Loads. Highway bridges shall be proportioned to carry the 
following moving loads in addition to their own weight : 

On the floor system for all 

spans 100 pounds per square foot of floors 

Or a concentrated load of 

8 tons on two pairs of 

wheels, 8 feet centers 
On the trusses, for spans of 

60 feet or less . . .^ . . . 100 pounds per square foot of floors 
On the trusses, for spans 60 

feet to 125 feet 80 pounds per square foot of floors 

On the trusses, for spans 

over 125 feet 60 pounds per square foot of floors 

Impact. Allowance for impact shall be one-half as great as 
for railroad bridges. 

Unit Stresses. The allowed unit stresses shall be the same as 
for railroad bridges. 

On yellow pine floor joists the allowed fiber stress shall be 
1600 pounds per square inch. 



72 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Requirements. The requirements as to quantity of material, 
workmanship, painting, erection, etc., shall be the same as 
hereinbefore specified for railroad bridges. 

PRICE 

Bidders shall name in their bids a lump sum for furnishing 
and transporting all labor and materials of every kind neces- 
sary to complete the superstructure in place, ready for the rails 
in railroad bridges, or ready for the traffic in highway bridges. 
in strict accordance with these specifications. Bidders shall state 
in their tenders, that for the price named they will complete the 
superstructure at or before a specified time ; and if it is not com- 
pleted at the specified time, the price shall be dollars 

less than the sum named, for every day after the specified time 
that the structure remains unfinished; provided that no reduc- 
tion in price shall be made for delay caused by the masonry not 
being ready to receive the superstructure. 

TUNNELS 

Approach Cuts. The approach cut shall be excavated to such 
widths and slopes as the said Chief Engineer may direct, and 
all the materials from the cuts and the ends of the tunnels shall 
be placed in embankments on the line of the railroad, on roads 
adjacent, or wasted, as the said Chief Engineer may direct, and 
they shall be classified and paid for according to the excavation 
classification of these specifications. 

Dimensions. Tunnels shall be of such width and height as 
the said Chief Engineer may direct, and shall be excavated in 
conformity with the cross section to be furnished by him. If 
the tunnel requires support, and timber is adopted, the area of 
its cross section shall be enlarged and measured 3 inches outside 
the lagging; or, if masonry is adopted, 6 inches outside the 
exterior lines of the side walls and arching. 

Classification and Price of Excavations. Materials from 
tunnel excavation shall be paid for by the cubic yard, or by the 
lineal foot, completed, in case such bid is accepted. The price 
paid shall cover all materials contained between the two portals, 
and strictly in all cases within the lines of the normal or enlarged 
cross section furnished from time to time by the said Chief Engi- 
neer, and shall include the cost of all temporary supports, such as 
props, scaffolding, strutting, etc., that may be necessary to secure 
a safe prosecution of the work in advance of the introduction 
of permanent supports of timbering or masonry, which tempo- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 73 

rary supports shall in all cases be removed by the said Contractor 
at his own expense after or concurrently with the completion 
of the permanent supports. 

Bottoms. The bottom shall be picked to a uniform surface, 
and no rocky protuberances shall be allowed inside the general 
line of the sections. 

Drainage Ditches. The drainage ditch through the center of 
the tunnel shown on the drawing of the normal cross section 
shall be carefully excavated to its full dimensions, and in it 
shall be laid broken stone in such manner and of such size and 
form as the said Chief Engineer may direct. 

Shafts. The said Chief Engineer shall determine the number 
and location of shafts, the dimensions of which shall be such as 
he may direct. The excavation price paid for them shall be by 
the cubic yard, and shall cover all materials contained between 
the surface of the ground and soffit of the tunnel, and within the 
area of the cross section furnished by the said Chief Engineer. 
In case the shaft is sunk alongside the tunnel, the price paid 
shall cover the cost of such curbing or other supports as the 
sides of the shaft may require ; also whatever materials or labor 
may be required for ventilation and keeping the tunnel and 
shafts free from water; and shall also cover all hoisting and 
pumping machinery. 

Sumps. The excavation of all necessary wells or sumps shall 
be paid for at the same price per cubic yard as shaft excavation. 

Niches. Niches or openings shall be left in the walls w^ien 
and at such points as the Chief Engineer may direct. 

Falls. Drilling and blasting shall be conducted with all pos- 
sible care, so as not to shatter the roof and the sides outside the 
section lines. Any falls that, in the judgment of the said Chief 
Engineer, are attributable to the carelessness or want of proper 
skill or attention on the part of said Contractor, shall be removed 
and disposed of at his own expense ; but if by unavoidable acci- 
dent or natural causes not thus attributable, any outside rock 
shall become loose or shattered, it shall be removed by the said 
Contractor, and a just and equitable allowance shall be made 
by the said Chief Engineer to compensate and remunerate him 
for such removal, provided a claim for such removal be made 
by the said Contractor during the month in which a fall so 
occasioned shall occur. 

Permanent Supports. Should it be determined by the said 
Chief Engineer during the progress of the work that any tunnel 
or any portion of a tunnel requires permanent supports, or that 
the shafts require lining, timber or masonry of brick or stone 



74 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

may be used for such supports and lining, as the said Chief 
Engineer may direct. 

Timber. If timber is used, the said Chief Engineer shall deter- 
mine its description and quality and shall prescribe the general 
plan of the support, and it shall be paid for by the 1000 feet, 
board measure, framed, and placed in the work. 

Iron Work. All wrought- and cast-iron work ordered by the 
said Chief Engineer and used in the work shall be paid for by 
the pound, in place. 

Masonry. When lining or arching of brick or stone masonry 
shall be ordered, it shall be laid in the most skillful and workman- 
like manner, and strictly in accordance with the plans and direc- 
tions prescribed by the said Chief Engineer from time to time, to 
suit the necessities of each case as it occurs. 

Should it be determined to erect masonry facades at the 
portals of the tunnels, or to finish out above the surface any or 
all of the shafts with ventilators, such work shall be executed 
by the said Contractor in accordance with such plans and direc- 
tions as may be prescribed by the said Chief Engineer for the 
same. 

All masonry used in and about tunnels shall be classified and 
paid for under the masonry classification of these specifications. 

Timbering Must Follow Excavation. The commencement, 
extent, and termination of all permanent timbering and masonry 
shall be determined by the said Chief Engineer and, when so 
determined, such timbering or masonry must progress right along 
with the excavation; and, if necessary, the excavation shall be 
secured and protected by temporary supports before the intro- 
duction of permanent ones. 

Packing. The vacancies behind the permanent timber, lag- 
ging, or masonry walls, and above the arching, shall be filled 
with concrete and dry packing, as the said Chief Engineer may 
from time to time direct, which packing shall be classified and 
paid for under the masonry classification of these specifications. 
Dry packing shall consist of hard durable stone, approved by 
the said Chief Engineer, broken to the required size to pack well, 
and shall be well rammed in. 

Work Required Before Acceptance. Before tunnels are 
accepted their whole length shall be entirely cleared of debris, 
rubbish, and surplus materials of every kind, and the bottom 
dressed off true to the grade line, and the drains cleaned out, 
as directed by the Chief Engineer. ' •• • . i» ; 

Night Work if Required. All work incident to the construc- 
tion of tunnels shall be carried on by 2 shifts of 10 hours each, 
or 3 shifts of 8 hours each, as the said Chief Engineer shall direct. ■ 



'O 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 75 

BORINGS FOR A SUBAQUEOUS TUNNEL 

General Specifications. The work to be done under this 
contract is to determine carefully by borings the character of 
materials that will be encountered during the construction of 

two tunnels under the River and under streets 

of both the Cities of and The 

borings shall be made at regular intervals 100 feet apart on 
the lines as shown on the plan attached hereto. 

The borings on land will approximate 3000 lineal feet, while 
those taken in the river, measured from the bottom of same, will 
aggregate about 2400 lineal feet. The dotted line on the pro- 
files indicates the depth to which it is proposed to take the 
borings. No payment will be made for borings made to a greater 
depth than that thus indicated, without a written order from the 
Engineer. 

Quantities Approximate. It will of course be understood that 
the approximate quantities given above are not to be used in 
making payment, but that payments will be made upon quan- 
tities determined by the Engineer. 

Boreholes Cased. All holes bored shall be cased with 4-inch 
pipe, and the character of all material passed through from the 
surface of the ground or bottom of the river must be carefully 
determined, and the depth of all changes in the stratification 
from the surface of the ground or low water mark shall be noted. 

Preservation of Samples. Samples of the various materials 
encountered shall be preserved and placed in glass jars, bottles, 
or tubes, as the Engineer may direct, the same to be carefully 
labeled, giving the number of boring and the depths between 
which the material is found. Upon the completion of the work 
all samples shall be delivered at the office of the Company. 

Borings to Rock. If directed by the Engineer, the borings 
shall be carried to rock formation and into same, to hard rock. 
Should rock be encountered above the dotted line shown in the 
drawing (profile drawing should always be submitted with regu- 
lar specifications), borings shall be carried down only to hard 
rock. 

Repaying. Upon the completion of a boring, the casing pipe 
shall be withdrawn and, wherever street paving shall have been 
disturbed by the work, it shall be restored to its original condi- 
tion upon the completion of each boring, in a manner satisfactory 
to the proper city officials, without cost to the Company. 

Ground Water. A record shall be kept at each borehole on 
land, of the depth of ground water below the surface of the 
ground. 



76 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Price to Include. Payment will be made for all borings at 
the price per vertical foot of hole bored, no allowance being 
made for the depth of the water where the boring is made ; 
said price to include the removal of all material excavated 
within the casing and all pipe, pumping (with the proper appli- 
ances and appurtenances), transportation, glass jars or tubes 
for samples, materials, floats, scows, tools, and labor necessary 
for the completion of the above described work in the best, most 
rapid, and most approved manner. 

Violation of Laws. The Contractor shall assume all blame 
or loss by reason of neglect or violation of the United States 
Government or municipal laws, regulations, or ordinances. The 
Contractor shall place sufficient light on or near the work, keep 
the light burning from twilight to sunrise, and observe such 
rules relative to signals and safeguards as the laws, regulations, 
or ordinances require. 

Watchmen and River Signals. The Contractor shall provide 
at his own expense the necessary watchmen, signals, and lights, 
and must observe the local laws of the district in protecting the 
public against all injury and damage. He shall conform to all 
the rules and laws relating to navigation in the waters crossed 
by structures covered by this contract, and shall notify the 
proper authorities of the location of or change in position of 
proposed structures and plant in said waters, and shall estab- 
lish and maintain the necessary lights, fog signals, etc., upon 
structures in course of construction, and upon his plant. In case of 
any damage resulting from neglect to keep and maintain suit- 
able lights and signals, or from mistake in signals, it must be 
promptly repaired at the expense of the Contractor. 

Inspection. The Contractor shall execute the work under 
this contract in the presence of an Inspector at all times; work 
done in absence of same shall be subject to rejection. 

PILE TRESTLE FOR AN ELECTRIC RAILROAD ACROSS AN 

OCEAN INLET 

General Specifications. The trestle shall consist of a single 
track structure extending out from either shore and across the 
various channels, as shown on the plans. 

The piles which are not exposed to salt water shall be of 
white oak, while the other piling in the trestle, fenders, guard, 
and rest piers, exposed to salt water, shall be treated with creo- 
sote oil as herein specified, the timber in same being of quality 
as specified under '' Piling". 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 77 

The piles, both vertical and battered, shall be jetted and 
driven to the depth shown on the plan. They shall be driven 
in the bents of the trestle, in th^ guard piers, and in the founda- 
tion for piers, for the watchmen '3 houses, and for the refuge bays. 

The quality of lumber and the workmanship on all structures 
shall be as specified under '' Timber and Framing". Creosoted 
timber and galvanized iron shall be used where shown. 

The trolley poles on the trestle shall be of Southern long- 
leaf yellow pine, 35 feet long, sawed to octagonal shape, measur- 
ing not less than 8 inches between parallel faces at the top and 
not less than 14 inches between faces at the base. They shall 
be attached to the trestle as shown, securely, and in a workman- 
like manner, and shall be erected accurately to line and grade. 

The price bid for the work shall include the furnishing and 
erection of all lumber, piles, and hardware in place, complete 
with all appurtenances. 

TIMBER AND FRAMING 

Quality. All timber must be sound, straight grained, and 
free from excessive sap, loose or rotten knots, wind shakes, 
wormholes, or any other defects which would impair its strength 
or durability. It must be sawed or hewn perfectly straight to 
exact dimensions, with full corners and square edges. All timber 
shall be long-leaf yellow pine or white oak. All yellow pine 
shall be long-leaf Southern yellow pine, and must satisfy the 
requirements under '^ Merchantable Inspection" in the Interstate 
Rules of 1905 for the classification and inspection of yellow pine 
lumber. 

Workmanship. Material and workmanship shall both be 
subject to inspection, and approval or rejection, by the Engineer. 
The fenders, rest, and guard piers, pile trestle, and refuge bays 
shall be built according to the plans and directions given by 
the Engineer, and of materials as specified under timber, framing, 
and iron work. 

Framing. All framing must be done in a thorough and 
workmanlike manner. No open joints, blocking, or shims will 
be allowed; the bearing of caps and stringers must all be sized, 
and perfect bearings must be secured throughout. The side 
with most sap shall be placed downward. All timber shall be 
squared off with the saw. The holes for the bolts shall be bored 
with an auger of the exact diameter of the bolts. The nuts on 
all bolts shall be screwed up tight so that the washers shall 
draw hard upon the timber and bring all parts of the structure 
close together. 



78 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Surfacing Ties. All bridge ties will be furnished and placed 
in the bridges by the Contractor, surfaced and brought to a true 
plane under the rails, so that they will have a full bearing on 
the four stringers, and so that the rails will have an even bearing 
on every tie. 

Surfacing Stringers. All track stringers shall have their 
upper surfaces brought to a true plane, so that the ties may 
have an even bearing on all the stringers. 

Elevating Outer Rail. Where any framed or pile trestle 
bridge is built on a curve, the blocking, or other means for 
elevating the outer rail, will be as per detail plans furnished 
for same. When mud mills are used for supporting either framed 
trestle bents or jack stringers, the soil shall be removed and a 
foundation of gravel placed, all of such a depth and rammed 
in such a manner as the Engineer shall direct, without cost to 
the Company. 

Inspection. All rejected materials must be removed from 
the Company's premises within 5 days from the date of notice 
to do so. 

Payment. The price bid shall include the framing and erec- 
tion of all the timber embodied in the finished structure (exclu- 
sive of the piling, which shall be paid for as specified under 
'* Piling"). The price shall include the cost of hauling from 
the railroad station, or wharf, of all the lumber, spikes, bolts, 
washers, etc., furnishing, framing, and erection; all to be done 
as shown on the plans and described in the specifications. 

PILING 

Quality and Dimensions. All piles shall be of young, straight, 
sound, and thrifty white oak, yellow pine, or other timber equally 
good for the purposes, acceptable to the Engineer. Piling shall 
be treated with creosoted oil where shown on the plans, and shall 
not be less than 14 inches in diameter, 2 feet from the butt. 

Piles having a length of 60 feet and over shall have a diameter 
at the point of not less than 7 inches. 

Piles having a length of from 40 to 60 feet shall have a 
diameter at the point of not less than 7^ inches. 

Piles having a length of from 30 to 40 feet shall have a 
diameter at the point of not less than 10 inches. 

Piles of less length than 30 feet shall have a diameter at 
the point of not less than 10 inches, exclusive of the bark. 
When sawed off, at no point shall they be of greater diameter 
than 18 inches. They shall be so straight that a line stretched 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 79 

from the center of the pile at the butt to the center of the pile 
at the tip will not leave the center of the pile at any point more 
than 2 inches for piles 20 feet long, 4 inches for piles 30 feet 
long, 6 inches for piles 40 feet long, and 8 inches for piles 50 
feet long. No short or sharp bends will be allowed. All knots 
shall be trimmed close to the body of the pile, and the bark 
peeled before placing the pile in the leads of the driver. 

Payments. Piling shall be paid for at the price per linear 
foot, in place, given in the proposal. No part of the pile shall 
be paid for except that which remains in the work. 

Driving Piles. All piles shall be driven to a depth to secure 
a penetration into the underlying material satisfactory to the 
Engineer. It is probable that this result can best be obtained 
by the use of a water jet at the bottom of the pile, the nozzle of 
same being carried below the point of the pile. After piles shall 
have been jetted to a sufficient depth to secure the required stability, 
they shall be driven until they do not move more than one-half inch 
under the blow of a hammer weighing 2000 pounds, falling 25 
feet at the last blow. If required, 5 additional blows from the 
same height shall then be delivered and the pile shall then be con- 
sidered as driven, provided the one-half-inch limit be not exceeded 
under any of the last 5 blows. They must be driven vertically, 
excepting where batter piles are shown, and at regular distances 
apart from centers, transversely and longitudinally, as required 
by the plans, or directions of the Engineer; they must be cut 
off squarely at the butt, and be well sharpened to a point or 
cut squarely off, as the Engineer may direct, and the heads 
shall be bound with iron hoops, of such dimensions as he may 
direct, both without additional cost to the Company. Where 
batter piles are required, they shall be driven at the angle shown 
on the plans. All piles when thus driven to the required depth, 
shrM be cut off square and horizontal at the proper height given 
by the Engineer, and only the actual number of linear feet of the 
pile left for use in the structures, after being driven and sawed off, 
shall be paid for. No splits or imperfect piles will be accepted. 
A follower of approved description shall be used when directed 
by the Engineer. Any open space that may be left around the 
driven piles shall be thoroughly filled with beach sand. 

After creosoted piles have been driven and cut off to the 
proper height, the heads shall be treated to an application of 
hot creosote oil of quality as herein specified, followed by a 
further application of asphalt thinned with oil. .J 

Price. The price shall include the hauling of the piles from 
the point of delivery to the point where they are to be driven, 
and shall be per linear foot of piling actually left in the work. 



80 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



Specifications for Standard Piling * 

Quality of Material. Piling shall be of white, post, or burr oak, 
tamarack, Norway or Southern long-leaf yellow pine, white or red cedar, red or 
yellow Douglas fir, or red or swamp cypress. 

All piling shall be cut from sound live trees of slow growth, firm grain, 
and free from ring shakes, decay, large unsound knots, or other defects 
that will impair their strength or durability. They shall be butt cut above 
the ground swell, and be uniformly tapering from the butt to the point. 
They shall be so straight that a line stretched from the center of the pile 
at the butt to the center of the pile at the point, will not leave the center 
of the pile at any point more than 2 inches for piles 20 feet long, 4 inches 
for piles 30 feet long, 6 inches for piles 40 feet long, and 8 inches for piles 
50 feet long. No short bends will be allowed. The ends shall be cut square 
and all bark, branches, and knots shall be trimmed off, finishing the pile 
in a workmanlike manner. The bark must be peeled before placing the pile 
in the leads of the pile driver. 

Diameter of Piles. The diameter of piles after the bark is peeled from 
them shall be as follows for the different kinds of timber: 









Norway & 
Tamarack 


t < 

}^5 


Q 
H 
O 
G 

P5' 


Red or 

Yei.. Doug. 

Fir. 


Red or 

Swamp 

Cypress 


Under 
40' 


Over 
40' 


! Maximum diameter at butt 

1 Minimum diameter at butt 

! Miu. diameter 6' from butt 

Miu. diameter at point less 

tlian 30' long 

Min. diameter at point 

from 31' to 39' long 

Min. diameter at point 40' 

and over in length 

Per cent of heart 


12' 
10' 

9' 
8' 


16' 
14' 

10' 

10' 

10' 
80 


18' 
14' 

10* 
9' 
9' 


14' 

9' 
8' 
8' 


12' 

9' 
8* 
8' 


18' 
14' 

10' 
10' 

73 


20' 
16* 

8' 
75 


16' 
14' 

10" 

9' 

8' 
100 





Driving Piles. All piles shall be driven into the hard bottom until 
they do not move more than one-half inch under the blow of a hammer weighing 
2000 pounds, falling 25 feet at the last blow, or a hammer and fall producing 
the same mechanical effect. 

If required, five additional blows from the same height shall be delivered, 
and the pile shall then be considered as driven, provided the one-half inch 
limit be not exceeded under any of the last five blows. They must be 
driven vertically except when batter piles are shown, at regular distances 
apart from centers, transversely and longitudinally, as required by the plans 
or directions of the Engineer. 

They must be cut off squarely at the butt, and be well sharpened to a 
point and, when necessary in the opinion of the Engineer, shall be shod with 
approved wrought-iron shoes and the heads bound with iron hoops, of such 



* Summary of Specifications for I'iling adopted by the American Railway 
Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 81 

dimensions as he may direct, both without additional cost to the Company. 
When batter piles are required they shall be driven at the angle required 
on the plans, and shall require but slight bending before framing. All 
piles when thus driven to the required depths, shall be cut off truly square 
and horizontal at the proper height, and shall be so trimmed as to leave 
no horizontal projection outside the cap. Only the actual number of linear feet 
of the pile left for use in the foundation or trestle, after being driven and 
sawed off, shall be paid for. No split or imperfect piles will be accepted. 

TREATMENT OF TIMBER WITH CREOSOTE 

Quality, Size, etc., of Timber. Bridge Timber. All bridge tim- 
ber shall be of Georgia or Florida long-leaf yellow pine and 
must be inspected nnder the Interstate Rules of 1905 for the 
classification and inspection of yellow pine lumber, to meet the 
requirements of either Prime Inspection or Merchantable Inspec- 
tion, as may be necessary to meet the conditions and which 
will be determined in advance when the order is placed. All 
bridge timber shall be treated with dead oil of coal tar, and 
each piece after treatment must contain not less than 12 pounds 
of oil per cubic foot. 

Piles, All piles shall be of young, straight, sound, and thrifty 
Carolina or short-leaf yellow pine, acceptable to the Engineer, 
and shall be treated with creosote oil as herein specified as to 

quality and method of treatment. They shall be not less than 

inches in diameter feet from butt, and shall have a diameter 

at the point of not less than. inches, exclusive of the bark. 

Both the outside and inside bark shall be thoroughly and care- 
fully removed before the piles are placed in the cylinder for 
treatment. When sawed off, at no point shall they be of greater 
diameter than 18 inches; they must be so straight that the pile 
at no point deviates by more than one-half of its diameter from a 
strai^lit line, and gradually tapers from end to end. The ends 
must be cut square and all branches and knots trimmed off to 
finish the pile in a workmanlike manner. All piles shall be treated 
with dead oil of coal tar, and each pile after treatment must 
contain not less than 12 pounds of oil per cubic foot. 

Crossties. All crossties shall be of Georgia or Florida long- 
leaf yellow pine of such quality as shall satisfy the requirements 
of Standard Inspection according to the Interstate Rules of 1905. 

They shall be long, thick, and in width. Ties shall 

be sawed or hewn smooth on four sides, with the faces true and 
parallel; free from deep score marks, splinters, and other inju- 
rious inequalities of surface; and shall be sawed square. The 
variation in thickness shall not be more than one-half inch, and in 
length not more than 1 inch. Ties shall be treated with dead 



82 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

oil of coal tar and each tie after treatment must contain not 
less than 10 pounds of oil per cubic foot. 

Switch Ties. All switch ties shall be of Georgia or Florida 
long-leaf yellow pine of such quality as shall satisfy the require- 
ments of Standard Inspection according to the Interstate Rules 
of 1905. Switch ties shall be treated with dead oil of coal tar, 
and each piece after treatment must contain not less than 10 
pounds of oil per cubic foot. 

Treatment. Steaming. It is preferred that the timber shall 
be thoroughly air seasoned for 90 days before treating ; that which 
is not thoroughly seasoned shall be steamed. To obtain the 
removal of sap and w^ater and to open the pores of the wood, 
the timber shall be subjected to the direct action of live steam 
admitted to the treating cylinder under a pressure of not less 
than 20 pounds and not to exceed 30 pounds per square inch, as 
recorded by a steam gage attached to the treating cylinder 
(which pressure must be sustained within the cylinder for from 
30 to 50 minutes). The pressure and time of steaming shall be 
regulated according to the size and condition of the stock used. 
The time of steaming shall range from 2 to 6 hours, depending 
on the character and condition of the timber. The c^dinder shall 
be frequently drained by a valve located at its lowest point. 
The timer used in any one cylinder charge shall all be of the same 
class, kind, and quality; that is to say, any one cylinder charge 
shall be exclusively long-leaf, short-leaf, or loblolly pine, and 
in no case shall these be mixed. 

Injection. "When, in the opinion of the Engineer, the timber 
shall have undergone the steaming process for a sufficient length 
of time, a vacuum shall be created in the cylinder, the tempera- 
ture being at all times maintained above the boiling point. A 
vacuum of from 22 to 26 inches shall continue for from 1 to 6 
hours, or until the timber has been thoroughly seasoned and 
no sap or moisture comes from or remains in the cylinder. During 
this vacuum process the lumber in the cylinder shall be kept at 
a temperature of about 175° F. by means of steam coils in the 
cylinder. While the above vacuum is maintained, the oil, as 
herein specified, shall be admitted to the cylinder under pressure 
at a temperature of at least 175° F. and the pressure pump shall 
be kept in operation until the timber has absorbed the pre- 
scribed amount of oil per cubic foot, the same to be determined 
by such system of measurements and tests as the Engineer shall 
elect. When the cylinder is nearly full, the valve leading to the 
vacuum pump shall be closed and the oil slowly forced into the 
cylinder and the pressure maintained until the wood has absorbed 
the required amount. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 83 

If, in the judgment of the Inspector, a better and more 
satisfactory treatment can be obtained by breaking the vacuum 
before filling the cylinder with the creosote oil, and then forcing 
the oil into the wood with pressure, the Inspector shall have the 
power to order such method of injecting with creosote oil. This 
is not intended to obviate or relieve the necessity of applying 
the final air pressure as hereinafter provided. 

After releasing the pressure and emptying the cylinder of oil, 
air pressure in excess of the oil pressure shall be applied, to 
render the penetration more perfect and make the outside of 
the timber cleaner and drier. 

The entire charge of timber shall absorb the oil to a depth 
of not less than 2 inches on all exposed surfaces. Such 
pieces as fail to receive the required penetration shall be re- 
turned to the chamber with a subsequent charge for further 
treatment. 

Oil. The oil used in treatment shall be a dead oil of coal tar 
commonly known as creosote oil, and shall be the best obtainable 
grade of coal tar creosote. Its specific gravity shall not be less 
than 1.04 at 35° C. It shall not contain more than 2J% of 
water. Compensation, by the injection of a proportionately larger 
amount of oil into the timber being treated, for a greater amount 
of water in the oil will not be allowed. The oil shall be com- 
pletely liquid at 38° C. and must be free from suspended 
matter. It shall yield not more than 10% by weight when dis- 
tilled up to 210° C. Between 210° and 235° C, the dis- 
tillate by weight shall not be less than 25% or more than 30%, 
and at least 30% weight "shall not distill below 260° C. The 
oil must be free from acetic acid and acetates, and the residue 
above 355° C, if it exceeds 5% in quality, must be soft. 
The sample of oil for test shall be taken from the side and near 
the middle of the treating cylinder, after the pump has begun 
the injection of oil. During the analysis of the oil, the ther- 
mometer bulb shall be kept about one-eighth of an inch above the 
surface of oil in the retort. 

Loading. The timber shall be piled on the treating trucks in 
such manner as to give all sides of the timber access to the creo- 
sote oil. All pieces treated in any one cylinder load shall be of 
uniform character and sectional dimensions. Both the outside 
and inside bark shall be carefully removed from all piling before 
it is placed in the treating cylinder. If any of the timber, fur- 
nished under contract, is acceptable to the purchaser and con- 
tains less than the prescribed amount of dead oil of coal tar per 
cubic foot, the Contractor agrees to make an allowance on each 
piece of timber equal to the difference in the quantity of oil 



84 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

contained in each piece and the prescribed amount per cubic 
foot at the rate of ten (10) cents per gallon. 

Inspection. The timber before treatment and the method of 
treatment shall be subject to the inspection of such inspectors 
as shall be appointed by the Purchaser, and he shall be afforded, 
free of charge, every facility for performing: such inspection. 
The Contractor shall, upon the request of the Inspector, furnish 
the Purchaser with samples of the oil being used, and shall 
allow the Inspector at any time to take such samples of oil for 
testing as he may require. The Contractor shall grant to the 
Purchaser or his inspectors access at all reasonable times to all 
of the records of the works pertaining to the treatment of timber 
for the Purchaser. 

The Contractor shall provide and install such apparatus as is 
necessary to enable the Inspector to determine the amount of 
oil absorbed by the timber, this amount being based upon gage 
readings taken before the introduction of the oil into the cylin- 
der and after the forcing back of the oil after treatment; also 
to determine the various temperatures and pressures required, 
and to examine the products of the vacuum. 

The Inspector shall be allowed, if he desires, the use of the 
laboratory and the apparatus therein for making such distilla- 
tion tests as he may require, and for the inspection of such opera- 
tion in connection with the work. 

Should he desire to ascertain the depth of penetration of oil 
in any timber, a five-eighths-inch auger must be furnished to enable 
him to bore such timber, and he shall be at liberty, if he so desires, 
and without cost to the Purchaser, to saw in two one tie from 
each 500 ties under treatment, to ascertain the quality of the work 
being done. 

Inspection and acceptance, or lack of inspection and lack of 
acceptance or rejections, on the part of the Purchaser, or his 
inspectors, shall not be any bar to subsequent rejection for cause. 

Method of Distillation. In making the tests the oil shall be 
distilled according to the common method; that is, using an 
8-ounce asbestos-covered retort with standard thermometer bulb 
one-half inch above the surface of the oil ; the creosote calculated on 
the basis of the dry oil shall give the distillates as above required 
at the various temperatures. 

IRON WORK FOR TIMBER TRESTLES 

Iron Work. All bolts and nuts shall be of wrought iron. 
Wrought iron shall be double rolled, of the best quality of Amer- 
ican refined iron, tough, fibrous, ductile, and capable of standing 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 85 

a tensile strain of 48,000 pounds per square inch before rup- 
ture, and an elongation of 22% in 8 inches, with fracture 
wholly fibrous. It shall bend cold with the fiber through 180° 
around a diameter not greater than twice the thickness of the 
specimen tested, without fracture on the outside of the bent 
portion. When nicked and bent, the fracture shall show at least 
90% fibrous. 

Cast Iron. All castings shall be tough, close-grained gray 
iron, sound, smooth, clean; free from cold shuts, blowholes, 
blisters, and all defects; and shall be made accurately to the 
dimensions shown on the plans. Sample pieces, 1 inch square, 
cast from the same heat of metal in sand molds, shall be capable 
of sustaining, on a clear span of 12 inches, a central load of 
2400 pounds when tested in the rough bar. A blow from a 
hammer shall produce an indentation on a rectangular edge of 
the casting without flaking the metal. 

Cast Washers. Cast washers shall be of cast iron. The diam- 
eter shall be not less than 3^ times the diameter of the bolt for 
which it is used, and its thickness shall be equal to the diameter 
of the bolt ; the diameter of the hole shall be one-eighth inch larger 
than the diameter of the bolt. 

Wrought Washers. Wrought washers shall be of wrought 
iron or steel; the diameter shall be not less than 3J times the 
diameter of the bolt for which it is used, and not less than one- 
fourth inch thick. The hole shall be one-eighth inch larger than the 
diameter of the bolt. 

Bolts. Bolts shall be made with square heads, standard size, 
the length of the thread to be 2-|- times the diameter of the bolt. 
The nuts shall be made square, standard size, with threads fit- 
ting closely the thread of the bolt. All threads shall be cut 
according to the United States standard. Drift bolts shall have 
square heads and chisel points. 

Spikes. Steel wire spikes may be used up to a length of 6 
inches ; where greater lengths are required, wrought iron or steel 
shall be used. 

TRACK LAYING 
HANDLING SUPPLIES 

Work to Be Performed. The work to be performed will 
consist of furnishing all material (except rails, angle bars, bolts, 
frogs, mates, switches, spikes, and electrical bonds and ties, 
which will be furnished by the railroad company, f . o. b. cars on 

siding at - ), all tools, machinery, and apparatus; 

the doing of all the work necessary for the efficient construction 



86 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

of a railroad with passing sidings, as called for by these speci- 
fications and the requirements of the Engineer; and in accord- 
ance with the plans and drawings, leaving the whole work in a 
finished and perfect condition in every respect, from a point 
near at on the Rail- 
road, known as station , to a point in 

, near the , as located over the 

right of way of said railroad company for a distance of 
miles. 

Delivery of Materials. The railroad company will furnish the 

material above specified, f. o. b. cars on siding at 

Upon the arrival of the carloads of material, the railroad com- 
pany will turn over to the Contractor the bills of lading covering 
the material, and the Contractor will then be held responsible 
for the inspection as to count and accounting for the material. 

Unloading Cars. The Contractor will be required to remove 
from the cars, promptly on their arrival, all material, and will 
be held responsible for any demurrage arising from his failure 
promptly to remove the material from said cars. The materials 
shall be piled in such a manner and at such points as the 
Engineer shall prescribe. 

Sub-Delivery. The Contractor will be required, at his own 
cost and expense, to furnish and provide all labor and appliances 
required for handling and sub-delivery of all materials furnished 
him by the Company. 

Material on Hand. The Contractor must at all times keep 
such a record of materials on hand, and of their location, that 
he will know^ whether he is supplied with sufficient material to 
complete the work in accordance wdth the specifications, as no 
additional time will be allowed the Contractor to complete his 
work by reason of his learning at too late a time that additional 
material is required to complete the work within the time speci- 
fied. All materials delivered along the line of the proposed rail- 
road before the completion of the grading shall be placed outside 
the line of the slope stakes. 

PREPARING ROADBED 

Grading. Before a tie is laid, and just before the track laying 
is begun, a small gang of experienced graders shall go ahead of 
the tie layers with the engineer corps, who will give the grades 
and the. superelevation of the curves. 

The graders, in charge of a competent foreman, must be pro- 
vided with the necessary sight boards, and other tools and imple- 
ments required, and must carefully level off the surface of the 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 87 

roadbed to the grade stakes set for same, and no indifferent 
leveling of grading will be allowed. 

No blocking up under crossties, with timber or broken rock, 
will be allowed. 

LAYING THE TRACK 

Ties. The ties shall be spaced so as to give 16 ties to each 
33 feet of rail. At rail joints the ties shall be spaced 18 inches 
between centers. On tangents they shall be laid truly at right 
angles to the rails, while on curves they shall be laid radially, 
and the ends lined up parallel with the rails on the side of the 
track which the Engineer may direct. The ties must not be 
notched under any circumstances, but should they be twisted, 
they must be made true with the adz, in order that the rails 
may have an even bearing over the whole breadth of the tie. 

Rails. Bending. If the rails are bent in handling they shall 
be perfectly straightened before being laid in the track. Rails 
used on sharp curves shall be curved in a bending machine accu- 
rately and truly to ordinates, which will be furnished by the 
Assistant Engineer. In no case will forcing, springing, or sledging 
the rails be allowed. 

Laying. To avoid bad joints and short rails, the track laying 
shall proceed from the ends of the road and it shall be continuous 
for the entire length of the same. The rails shall be laid to the 
stakes given by the Engineer, and on curves they must be bent 
to the proper curvature before being laid upon the ties. On 
tangents the rails shall be level, and on curves the proper eleva- 
tion must be given to the outer rail and carried uniformly around 
the curve. This elevation shall be commenced from 50 to 200 
feet back of the point of curvature as directed by the Engineer 
and, depending on the degree of the curve, shall be increased 
uniformly to the latter point, where the full elevation is attained. 
On curves sharper than 4 degrees, an additional spike shall be 
put on the outside of the outer rail. 

Spiking. There must be four spikes to each crosstie — two 
inside and two outside of the rails; they must be driven with a 
proper amount of "stagger", so as to avoid splitting the cross- 
ties; and the two inside spikes must be driven in the same edge 
of tie, so as to keep the tie at right angles to the track. In 
driving spikes on the gage side, care must be taken to place the 
gage at right angles with the rail. The spikes must be driven 
as nearly perpendicularly as possible ; and not more than 4 inches 
from center to center of spike on a line parallel with the rail; 
and no blow must be struck after the head of the spike is fairly 
down on the rail flange. Great care must also be taken not to 



88 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

strike the rail, and none but experienced and expert spikers must 
be employed on the work. 

Joints. The joints of the rails shall be exactly at the middle 
of the joint ties, and the joint on the one line of rail shall be 
opposite the middle of the rail on the other line of rail of the 
same track. A distance must be left between the ends of the 
rails to allow for expansion ; in winter five-sixteenths of an inch, 
i-i summer one-sixteenth of an inch. The use of iron shims for 
securing this spacing will be imperatively insisted upon, and the 
Contractor must provide himself with a sufficient quantity of them, 
of the thickness above specified. Joints on or within 4 feet of 
cattle guards or open culverts must be avoided wherever possible. 
Care must be taken to place the angle bars squarely in position. 
The head of the belts must be struck with a 2-pound hammer, while 
pressure is applied with a 30-inch wrench to tighten the bolt. The 
gage of the track shall not vary more than one-sixteenth of an inch 
from the standard of this railroad, which is 4 feet 8J inches. The 
gage shall be widened on curves, if directed by the Engineer, 
but not otherwise. Such elevation shall be given to the outer 
rail on curves as the Engineer shall direct. 

Bonding. All the joints of the track rails shall be single 
bonded w4th the Improved Open Double Electric Protected Rail 
Bonds having a capacity equal to No. 0000 B. & S. gage round 
copper wire. 

The rail drilling to receive the bonds must be performed on 
the ground and all holes carefully cleaned out and the bond 
terminals thoroughly polished so as to form a perfect contact 
of the entire circumference of the terminal of the bond with 
the rail. Care must be taken not to disturb the bond after it is 
put in place. 

Special Work. In laying switches, frogs, mates, and other 
special work, care shall be taken to place them accurately in the 
position determined by the Engineer. The gage at switches, on 
tangent, shall be one-sixteenth of an inch tight. If the special work 
does not appear to fit, no attempt whatever shall be made to force 
it, except by direction of the Engineer. Special work shall be 
laid on ties specially provided for the purpose, wdiich shall be 
so laid as to give a firm and a continuous bearing upon the 
ballast. Particular attention should be given to having them 
well lined up to avoid low joints at the head blocks of switches. 
Guard rails shall be used on curves sharper than 9 degrees, and 
at turnouts; they shall be of proper length, and properly ad- 
justed and securely fastened. Plans of switch stands, frogs, and 
fixtures will be furnished, showing minor details of placing in 
position, etc., or instructions of the Engineer shall be followed. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 89 

Joints Tightened. After the surfacing has been completed 
the joints shall be carefully gone over and tightened up as 
described under "Joints". 

Maintenance Before Acceptance. Before any construction 
car or engine is allowed to run over the rails, the track must 
be lined and so firmly tamped to a good level that there shall be 
no chance of straining or bending the rails. Material for tamping 
must not be dug out of embankments or bermes, nor shall any 
material be taken from the side slopes of cuts in such way as to 
disfigure them. When track material is being hauled by the 
Contractor's trains over track already laid, such track shall be 
kept in good line and surface by the Contractor. The Contractor 
shall maintain and keep the track in good repair until the same 
is accepted, and no length of track shall be accepted and taken 
off the hands of the Contractor, except at the option of the 
Engineer, until the whole shall have been completed. 

Measurement of Track for Payment. In making payment for 
track laying, all measurements shall be made per linear foot of 
single track, measured on the center line; and where turnouts 
occur the measurement shall be made once on the main track 
and again on the turnout from the point of switch of the turn- 
out to be measured. At steam or electric road crossings, measure- 
ments shall be made once on the main track and again on the 
line of the intersecting road. The price for track laying shall 
include the unloading and hauling of materials; the placing of 
ties, rails, angle bars, and special work; and the bending, bolting, 
spiking, lining, and ballasting of the same. 

BALLASTING 

Gravel Ballast. Gravel shall be clean, free from clay, earth, 
loam, and stones larger than would pass through a 2J-inch ring 
in any direction ; it must not contain more than one-third sand, and 
shall be subject to the inspection and acceptance of the Engineer. 

Cinder Ballast. Cinder ballast shall be free from all objection- 
able materials and of a quality approved by the Engineer. 

Broken Stone. Stone ballast shall consist of clean broken 
granite, trap, or other hard stone, to be approved by the Engi- 
neer, and must be crushed so that its greatest dimension will 
pass through a 2J-inch ring. 

Lining. After the rails have been spiked to the ties, the 
entire track must be raised to the finished grade and carefully 
aligned to the stakes given by the Engineer. The space under 
the ties must then be filled with ballast of approved quality, 
satisfactory to the Engineer. Care must be taken in raising the 



90 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

track and tamping same not to deform the rails, splice bars, or 
bonds. The space between the ties shall be filled with ballast 
to the lines and slopes as show^n on the standard section of 
roadbed. 

Tamping. The ties shall be tamped from 15 inches inside the 
rail to the ends of the ties; if possible, tamp the ends of the tie 
outside the rail first and allow the material train to pass over 
it before tamping the inside of the rail, giving special attention 
to tamping under the rail ; tamp the center of the tie loosely 
with a shovel when using gravel or cinder ballast; where stone 
ballast is used, do not tamp the center of the tie. Ties must be 
tamped solidly from the end, using tamping bar or tamping pick, 
as the Engineer may direct. Care must be taken not to disturb 
the roadbed. When gravel ballast is used it shall be firmly 
packed or rammed between the ties to the prescribed slope, so 
that it will readily shed the water and shall not be banked above 
the bottom of the ends of the ties ; a space of not less than 1 inch 
shall be left between the top of the ballast and the base of the 
rail to alloAv the water to run off readily, care being taken to 
carry the ballast in the middle of the track to the full height 
shown in the standard drawings. 

SURFACING 

Every care shall be taken to maintain the crown of the road- 
bed in the center as shown on the standard drawings and, when 
the condition of the roadbed, on account of washing or settle- 
ment, does not allow of the exact depth of ballast beneath the 
ties, the Contractor shall make the necessary excavation or fill 
without cost to the Company. Should any material for ballast 
be taken out of the side slopes of cuts, it must be done in such a 
way as not to disfigure them. Material for ballast shall not be 
taken from embankments. In surfacing, the level board shall be 
used, at head, at joints, at quarters, and at centers. After the 
completion of surfacing, all materials that shall have been allowed 
to accumulate in the ditches on either side of the roadbed, shall 
be removed, and the road properly ditched and cleaned up. All 
necessary cross drains shall be laid at proper intervals. 

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR CROSSTIES 

Timber. Crossties will be accepted of the following varieties 
of timber : Oaks of the various kinds known as white, rock, and 
post (no red oak will be received), second growth white chestnut, 
cherry, maple, butternut, tamarack, and yellow pine of the long- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 91 

leaf, Southern hard-pine variety, cut from untapped trees and 
grown not north of South Carolina. 

Sizes. First Class. First class crossties shall be 8J feet in 
length, 7 inches in thickness, and not less than 7 inches in width 
of face on both sides at the small end. 

Second Class. Second class crossties shall be 8 feet in length, 
6 inches in thickness, and not less than 6 inches in width of face 
on both sides at the small end ; and in each class there must be at 
least one-fourth of the whole number that are not less than 9 
inches in width of face. » ** 

Manufacture. All ties must be made from sound, thrifty, live 
or green timber; free from loose or rotten knots, wormholes, dry 
rot, wind-shakes, splits, or any other imperfections affecting the 
strength or durability of the timber. 

Not more than 1 inch of sapwood will be allowed on the edges 
or corners, and none at all on either face of the ties. They must 
be hewed or sawed with the faces perfectly true and parallel, 
of the exact thickness specified. The faces must be "out of 
wind", smooth, and free from any inequalities of surface, deep 
score marks, or splinters. The ties must be cut or sawed square 
on the ends to the exact lengths given; they must be generally 
straight in all directions; and they will not be accepted if more 
than 3 inches out of straight in any direction; and they must 
be peeled or stripped entirely free from the bark before being 
delivered. No split ties will be accepted under any circum- 
stances, and "culls" only at the option of the Company and at 
such prices as may be agreed upon from time to time. 

Delivery. All ties delivered along the line of the railway 
must be stacked up in neat square stacks of 50 ties in each, with 
alternate layers crossing each other, and on ground, wherever 
possible, as high or higher than the grade of the railroad, and in 
such position as to admit of being counted and inspected with 
ease and facility. Ties delivered at suitable and convenient 
places, acceptable to the Company, will be inspected, and bills 
made for all ties received and accepted up to the last day of 
each month, and payment will be made for same on or about the 
day of the succeeding month. 




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CIVIL ENGINEERING SPECIFICA- 
TIONS AND CONTRACTS 



PART TI 



TYPICAL ILLUSTRATIVE SPECIFICATIONS 

(Continued) 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR OVERHEAD CONSTRUCTION 
OF AN ELECTRIC RAILWAY 

Materials Furnished by the Company. The Company will 

furnish f. o.b. cars City, all poles and trimmings, 

span wire, trolley wire, and overhead construction materials 
with the exception of solder, tape, and paint. 

Contractor's Obligations. The Contractor shall remove from 
railroad stations all poles and overhead materials, and shall store 
and protect same, and be responsible for their safe keeping. The 
Contractor shall be responsible for demurrage accruing from 
neglect to remove the materials from the cars promptly. The 
Contractor shall furnish all labor, tools, and appliances for the 
complete erection of the overhead construction. 

Poles. The poles shall be of iron, 28 feet long, weighing 
approximately 600 pounds. They shall be made of 7-, 6-, and 
5-inch section of pipe, telescoped and swedged together. 

Setting. The Company will furnish permits for the erection 
of poles located as shown on the plans. The Contractor shall set 
poles 6 feet in the ground in 1-3-6 Portland cement concrete, 
in holes not less than 18 inches in diameter. Poles shall be set 
with a rake of 8 inches, on straight track, away from the line 
of strain. On curves, poles shall be set with a rake of 14 inches. 
In case water is found in pole holes, the lower portion of the 
hole must be protected by sinking a barrel, or by other similar 
precaution. Before poles are placed in concrete, they shall be 
given one coat of approved asphalt paint for the lower 7 feet. 
Asphalt paint shall be furnished by the Contractor. 

All pavements, awnings, water, gas, or sewer pipes, or other 
structures damaged during the erection of the poles must be 

93 



94 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

replaced in as good condition as found, at the Contractor's 
expense. 

On completion of work, the poles shall be painted with one 
coat of lead and oil paint, of approved color. The paint shall 
be supplied by the Contractor. 

Span Construction. The entire line shall be of span con- 
struction. The span wires shall consist of seven-strand five-six- 
teenths-inch galvanized steel cable ; and the spans shall be secured 
to the poles by double-bolt pole rings. At each end of the span wire 
there shall be put in a globe strain insulator which shall connect 
with the outer bolt of the pole band. The spans shall be drawn taut 
and the ends shall be made up to the strains. At all curves the 
pull-off wires shall be secured to an anchor pole with a heavy 
band; a turnbuckle and a heavy insulated strain shall be put in 
between the pull-off wires and the pole. Each pull-off wire shall 
have in addition to this insulation a giant strain insulator at the 
pull-off fitting. Wherever pull-off wires cross the main trolley 
wire, they shall be secured to the cross wire with standard 
soldered ear and bell insulator. 

Trolley Wire. Trolley wire shall be No. 0000 B. & S. gage 
round copper wire. At terminals wire shall be secured to poles 
through heavy double strain insulators and bridled to terminal 
poles. Trolley wire shall be strung tight and shall be at least 20 feet 
from the track, except at railroad crossings, where it must be 22 
feet from the track. At each side of all railroad crossings there 
shall be installed a strain ear secured to an extra span wire run 
above regular span wire, with globe strain insulation in the 
bridle. Trolley wire must be located in the true center of the 
track on a straight track, and at all curves it must be so pulled 
over that the trolley w^heel on the car will always stay on the wire. 

The insulated hangers shall be the Keystone bell type. The 
ears shall be deep-grooved milled ears, soldered to the wire. 
Great care must be used in soldering; flux used shall be Yeager 
soldering salt or its equal. 

Frogs and Lightning Arresters. The Contractor shall install 
all of the necessary frogs over special work ; install the neces- 
sary insulated crossings at -.Avenue ; and install 4 

lightning arresters attached to the poles and the necessary single 
No. B. & S. gage wire in connections from same to the track. 
These lightning arrester lead wires are to be brought down inside 
the pole, through a hole bored in the pole below the pave- 
ment line, and the wires shall be connected to the cross bond in 
the track and securely soldered to the same. 

Joints. All joints in the trolley wire shall be made with long 
soldered-copper sleeves. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 95 

Strain Guys. The strain guys shall be erected on each side 

of the curves between Avenue and 

Avenue, leading into Avenue. Single strain guys 

shall be placed on each side of each railroad crossing. These 
strain guys shall lead to the nearest poles and have a globe strain 
insulator cut in, 2 feet from the strain ear, and also at turnbuckle. 

It is the general intention of these specifications that the 
Contractor shall erect the complete overhead construction ready 
for the operation of cars. 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR A STONE ROAD 

Work to be Performed. The work to be performed will con- 
sist in furnishing all material, tools, machinery, and labor neces- 
sary for the efficient and proper grading of the roadway, side 
ditches, and side banks; for the laying, spreading, and rolling 
of road metal ; and leaving the roadway complete in every manner, 
ready for immediate use. 

Plans and Drawings. The plan, profile, and cross sections on 
file in the office of the State Commissioner of Public Roads and 

at the office of. County Engineer, 

, show general location, profile, details, and dimen- 
sions. The work will be constructed in all respects according to 
the above-mentioned plans, profile, and cross sections, which form 
part of these specifications. 

Any variation of location, profile, size, and dimensions from 
that shown on the plans, as may be required by the exigencies 
of construction, will, in all cases, be determined by the Engineer ; 
but the Contractor shall not, on any pretense, save that of the 
written order of the contracting parties, deviate from the intent 
of the plans or specifications. 

On all drawings, figured dimensions are to govern in cases of 
discrepancy between scale and figures. 

Grading. Under this head will be included all the excava- 
tion and embankment required for the formation of the highway ; 
cutting all ditches or drains about or contiguous to the road; 
removing all fences, walls, buildings, trees, poles, or other encum- 
brances; the excavation and embankment necessary for recon- 
structing cross or branch roads in cases where they are destroyed 
or interfered with in the formation of the roadway ; and all other 
excavations and embankments connected with or incidental to 
the construction of the said road. 

Excavation. The roadway to the width of 

feet as shown on the plan must be excavated or built to the same 



96 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

curvature as that of the surface of the road when finished; the 
grade, from center to sides, must be as shown on plans. 

The earth taken from any cut or ditch shall be deposited 
wherever the Engineer may direct, either within or without the 
line of the road ; but no earth shall be removed from the line of 
the road without the order of the Engineer. 

The grading shall be completed for the full width of the road, 
from gutter to gutter, before any macadamizing is commenced. 

Embankment. Material taken from the excavations, except 
when otherAvise directed by the Engineer, shall be deposited in 
the embankments, either on the roadway or sidewalks. Rejected 
or excess material will be used to increase the width of the em- 
bankments or deposited in spoil banks or waste piles, wherever 
and however the Engineer may direct. 

When there is not sufficient material in the excavations of 
the road to form the embankments, the deficiency must be sup- 
plied by the Contractor from without the road; the character of 
said material and place of excavation must be approved by the 
Engineer; and said material is to be paid for at the same price 
per cubic yard as specified in the contract for othef excavation. 

The embankments will be formed in layers of such depth, 
generally 1 foot, and the material deposited and distributed in 
such a manner as the Engineer may direct, the required allow- 
ance for settling being added. 

Slopes. Slopes in both embankments and excavations shall 
be IJ horizontal to 1 vertical, unless otherwise ordered by the 
Engineer. 

Roadbed. Siih foundation. When the excavations and em- 
bankments have been brought to a proper depth below the 
intended surface of the roadway, the cross section thereof con- 
forming in every respect to the cross section of the road when 
finished, the same shall be rolled with a 10-ton steam roller until 
approved by the Engineer. If any depressions form under such 
rolling, owing to improper material or vegetable matter, the 
same shall be removed and good earth substituted, and the whole 
shall be rerolled until thoroughly solid and to above-mentioned 
grade. Water must be applied in advance of the roller when, 
in the opinion of the Engineer, it is necessary. 

Telford Foundation. After the subfoundation has been 
formed and rolled, as above specified, and has passed the inspec- 
tion of the Engineer, a bottom course of stone, of an average 
depth of 10 inches, is to be set by hand as a close firm pavement ; 
the stones shall be placed on their broadest edges lengthwise 
across the road in such a manner as to break joints as much as 
possible, and the breadth of the upper edge shall not exceed 4 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 97 

inches. The interstices are then to be filled with stone chips, 
firmly wedged by hand with a hammer, and projecting points shall 
be broken off. No stone of greater length than 10 inches or width 
of 4 inches shall be used, except each alternate stone on the outer 
edge, which shall be double the length of the others and well tied 
into the bed of the road; all stones with a flat smooth surface 
must be broken ; the whole surface of this pavement shall be sub- 
jected to a thorough settling or ramming with heavy sledge 
hammers, and shall be thoroughly rolled with a 10-ton steam 
roller. No stone larger than 2^ inches shall be left loose on top 
of telford. 

Macadam. First Course of Broken Stone. After the road 
bed has been formed and rolled as above specified, and has passed 
the inspection of the Engineer, the first layer of broken stone, 
consisting of 2^-inch stone, or stone that will pass through a ring 
3 inches in diameter, shall be deposited in a uniform layer, having 
a depth of 6 inches, and rolled repeatedly with a 10-ton steam 
roller until compacted to the satisfaction of the Engineer. No 
stone in this course shall be less than 2 inches in length. Water 
must be applied in advance of the roller, when, in the opinion 
of the Engineer, it is necessary. 

The depth of loose stone in this and all other courses must 
be measured by blocks the required thickness of the said loose 
stone. These blocks shall be placed at frequent intervals amid 
the loose stone when being spread. 

Binder Betiveen First and Second Course. On the first course 

of stone a quantity of binder shall be spread in a 

uniform layer, and the rolling shall be continued until the stones 
cease to sink or creep in front of the roller ; water will be applied 
in advance of the roller, if ordered by the Engineer. The quan- 
tity and quality of this and all other binding shall be at all times 
subject to the approval of the Engineer. 

Second Course of Broken Stone. The second course of broken 
stone shall consist of 1^-inch stone ; that is, every piece of stone 
shall be broken so that it can be passed through a ring 2 inches 
in diameter, and no stone shall be more than 2 inches nor less 
than 1 inch long. This course is to be spread in a uniform layer 

of inches in depth, and rolled until thoroughly settled 

into place to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Water will be 
applied, if ordered by the Engineer. 

Binder on Second Course of Stone. Binder on this course of 
stone must be applied in the manner already given for binder on 
first course of stone as directed by Engineer. 

Surface. When the two courses are rolled to the satisfaction 
of the Engineer, a coat of 50 per cent of three-fourths-inch stone 



98 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

and 50 per cent of screenings, properly mixed, is to be spread of 
sufficient thickness to make a smooth and uniform surface to the 
road; then the road shall again be rolled until it becomes thor- 
oughly consolidated, hard, and smooth. 

Rolling shall be done by the Contractor with a 10-ton roller, 
approved by the Engineer. 

Any depressions formed during the rolling, or from any other 
cause, are to be filled with l^-inch stone or three-fourths-inch stone, 
or both, and screenings approved by the Engineer, and the road- 
way shall be brought to the proper grade and curvature as deter- 
mined by him. 

Water must be applied in such quantities and in such manner 
as directed by the Engineer. 

Manner of Rolling. In the rolling, the operator must start 
from the side lines of the stone bed and work towards the center, 
unless otherwise directed. The rolling shall at all times be under 
the control of the Engineer, who may, from time to time, direct 
such methods of procedure as in his opinion are required by the 
necessities of the case. 

Quality of Material. All stone must be as nearly cubical as 
possible ; broken with the most approved modern stone-crushing 
machinery; free from all screenings, earth, and other objection- 
able substances ; of uniform size and of the same kind and quality, 
or of a kind and quality equall}^ good in every particular as that 
shown in the Engineer's office. The H-incli stone or three-fourths- 
inch, and the screenings for binder and the final finish must be of 
the best trap rock, and must be free from loam or clay. 

The Contractor must furnish samples to the Engineer of the 
kind of stone to be used in the work before the opening of the bids. 

Shouldering. A shoulder of firm earth or gravel is to be left 
or made on each side, extending at the same grade and curvature 
of the road to the side ditches or gutters. This shoulder is to be 
rolled according to the directions of the Engineer. 

Side Ditches or Gutters. The side ditches or gutters are to 
be excavated as per stakes furnished by the Engineer, in order 
to give an easy flow of water, so that no water shall be left stand- 
ing on the road or in the ditches ; and for this excavation no extra 
payment will be made. 

Underdrains. Underdrains, if found necessary, shall be con- 
structed by the Contractor (at prices named in bids) of good 
4-inch tile, laid upon a board of not less than 1 inch in thickness 
and 6 inches in width, whenever and wherever the Engineer and 
Supervisor shall decide ; the top of the tile shall be at least 
inches deep, unless otherwise directed by the Engineer; 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 99 

the joints of the tile shall be covered with salt, hay, or material 
equally good; and the trench shall be filled with pervious earth. 

When directed by the Engineer a stone drain may be used 
in place of the tile drain. A trench 1 foot wide and 1 foot 6 
inches in depth shall be excavated below the subgrade, said 
excavation to be filled with loose broken stone to a depth required 
by the Engineer. 

No Extra Price. No allowance in measure of depth of pave- 
ment will be made on account of any material which may be 
driven into the roadbed by rolling. The pavement when com- 
pleted must conform to the grade and the cross sections, and be 
satisfactory to the Engineer, whose decision shall be final. 

No extra work will be paid for unless the price has been 
agreed upon between the contracting parties, including the State 
Commissioner of Public Roads, and endorsed upon the agreement, 
witnessed by the Engineer. 

All clay or gravel for shouldering or binder, and all extra 
hauling, is to be done at the Contractor's expense. 

Broad Tire Wagons. All wagons and carts used during the 
construction for hauling stone, earth, or any other material must 
have tires not less than 3^ inches in width. 

Liabilities of Contractor. Foad Repairs for One Year. The 
Contractor shall keep the finished roadway and earthwork in 
repair for the period of 1 year from the date of its completion 
and acceptance, during which time he shall be liable for the wear 
and tear caused by ordinary travel; and, in addition thereto, he 
shall be liable for as much longer as for any period or periods 
during said year it shall be out of proper condition. If, during 
the time of the Contractor's liability, the roadway or any part of 
the work shall, in the judgment of the Engineer, require repair- 
ing, and he shall duly notify the Contractor to make such repairs 
as are required ; and if the Contractor shall refuse or neglect to do 
so, to the satisfaction of the said Engineer, within 5 days from 
the date of the service of the notice, then the said Engineer 
shall have the right to have the work done properly by other 
parties and pay the expense for the same out of the 5 per cent 
retained. 

Preserving Stakes and Bench Marks. The Contractor shall be 
required to preserve all stakes and benchmarks made and estab- 
lished on the line of work until duly authorized by the Engineer 
to remove the same. 

Title Stones. The Contractor shall not disturb the position 
of title stones (the corners of properties adjacent to the road), 
but where they appear he shall either lift or lower them, under 
the personal supervision of the Engineer. 



100 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Preserving Clear Eoadway. The Contractor must also pre- 
serve the roadway on which he is working from needless obstruc- 
tion, and where necessary he must construct safe and commodi- 
ous crossings, to be maintained in good order. He shall afford 
all proper and reasonable means for the accommodation of the 
public, and leave the roadway complete in every manner, ready 
for immediate use. 

Provision for Drainage. If it is necessary in the prosecution 
of the work, to interrupt or obstruct the natural drainage of the 
surface or the flow of artificial drains, the Contractor shall pro- 
vide for the same during the progress of the w^ork in such a way 
that no damage shall result to either public or private interests. 
He shall be held liable for all damages which may result from 
an}^ neglect to provide for either natural or artificial drainage, 
which he may have interrupted. 

Right to Build Bridges, Culverts, etc., and to Suspend Work. 
The right of the county to build bridges, culverts, lay pipes, or 
other appurtenances in said road during the progress of the work 
is expressly reserved, as well as the right to suspend the work 
or any part thereof during the construction of the same, for the 
purposes above stated, without further compensation to the Con- 
tractor for such suspension than an extension of time for com- 
pleting the work equal to the length of time his work may have 
been delayed. 

Stopping Work on Account of Weather. The Engineer may 
stop any portion of the work if, in his judgment, the weather is 
such as to prevent the work from being properly done. No 
allowance of any kind will be made for such stoppage, except an 
extension of the time for the completion of the work as herein 
provided. 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONCRETE MACADAM 

Cement. The cement shall be first-class hydraulic cement 
which shall conform in all respects to the Standard Specifications 
of the American Society for Testing Materials. All cement shall 
be approved in Avriting by the State Highway Commissioner, 
before ordering, and shall preferably be delivered on the work 
in barrels. The Contractor shall furnish samples of the cement 
to the State Highway Commissioner, before any of it is used on 
the work. 

Water. Water shall be fresh and clean, free from earth, 
refuse, and injurious mineral matter. 

Broken Stone. Broken stone shall be good hard trap rock 
or liard blue limestone, clean and sound, l)roken into sizes ranging 



CIA'IL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 101 

from one-half inch to IJ inches in diameter. It must be thoroughly 
cleaned of refuse before using. 

Sand. All sand shall be clean, coarse, sharp, and free from 
loam and vegetable matter. 

Concrete Mixing. This concrete shall consist of the above 
materials properly proportioned for a 1-3-5 mixture, and shall 
be mixed with a sufficient quantity of water to cause the free 
mortar to rise to the top of the mass of concrete when tamped 
into place. It shall be thoroughly mixed by hand or machine 
and to the satisfaction of the State Highway Commissioner or 
Engineer in charge. 

Placing. After the roadbed has been prepared according to 
these plans and specifications, a layer of concrete, proportioned 
as specified above, shall be placed to a depth of 6 inches, on 
one-half the width of the roadway. The inside edges shall be a 
dovetailed line as shown on the accompanying plans. 

Tamping.' The concrete shall be thoroughly tamped with a 
25-pound tamper, until free mortar appears on the surface to 
the depth of 1 inch. The roadway shall then be covered with 
three-fourths-inch screenings, free from dust, and the same shall 
be lightly tamped into the free mortar until they are embedded 
for three-fourths of their depth. 

Expansion Joints. If in the judgment of the State Highway 
Commissioner or Engineer in charge, expansion joints are re- 
quired, they shall be formed at intervals of every 40 feet, by 
placing one-half-inch by 8-inch boards in the concrete, at right 
angles to the center line of the road. These boards shall be properly 
cut to fit the subsurface and the finished grade of the concrete, 
and shall be withdrawn from the concrete one hour after placing 
same, and the space left open thereby shall be filled with hot 
pitch or some other approved bituminous filler. 

Protection of Work. After the concrete shall have been 
placed it shall be protected from traffic for at least 1 week. While 
constructing one-half of the roadway, traffic may be permitted 
on the other half. 

Connecting up Work. After one-half of the roadway has 
been completed, the remaining half shall be laid in the same 
manner as the first half, making expansion joints continuous 
with the first half. 

No roller shall be permitted on the concrete roadway until 2 
weeks after the whole has been completed. 

Other Materials. Bids will also be received for other pro- 
prietary methods of making a concrete road. If another proprie- 
tary method is used it w^^l b-^ placed and the work done in 



102 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

general under the specifications of the manufacturer in conjunc- 
tion with the regular specifications of the Department. 

Grading, drainage, and telford or macadam foundations, and 
all other things to be done in the reconstruction must be done 
under the general specifications of the State Highway Department 
for road reconstruction. 

PAVEMENTS AND CURBING 
GENERAL 

Removal or Adjustment of Fixtures. The adjustment or re- 
setting of any manholes, fire hydrants, lamp posts, gas stops, 
telegraph or electric light poles, or other fixtures shall be con- 
sidered as an appurtenant to the work of paving and repaving; 
and shall be included as such in the work to be done by the Con- 
tractor for the prices bid for paving and repaving. Such adjust- 
ment or resetting shall be done by the companies owning them, 
or, if the property of the City, by the proper municipal Depart- 
ment ; but, in either case, it shall be done at the expense of the 
Contractor. 

Granite Blocks on Gravel Base. For granite block paving 
on gravel base in driveways or gutters, the filling shall be thor- 
oughly compacted to a subgrade 10 inches below the finished 
grade, and a layer of approved paving gravel spread on it to a 
least thickness of 4 inches. The blocks shall be placed vertically 
on edge in straight rows at right angles to the curb line, in close 
contact, breaking joints; and they shall be thoroughly rammed 
three times with a rammer weighing not less than 55 pounds ; and 
the finished surface shall conform exactly to the required grade. 
"While the blocks are being rammed, approved paving gravel or 
sand shall be swept into the joints until they are completely 
filled. All irregular or uneven surfaces shall be taken up and 
reset and re-rammed to the proper grade. 

Repaving, Resetting Curb, etc. In repaving and in the reset- 
ting of curbs and crossing stones, the foundations shall be pre- 
pared and all the work shall be done as required for new paving 
of the same kind. Old materials that may be suitable for replac- 
ing may be used only after satisfactory preparation by special 
permission, and as directed. 

Revision of Old Paving. Any revision of old paving, gutter 
ways, crossings, or curbs, where the new work joins the old work, 
shall be made as directed, and paid for as provided in the proposal. 

Cleaning. Upon the completion of any pavements the Con- 
tractor shall clean them promptly of all refuse or surplus 
materials. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 103 

Gutters. The finished grade for the gutters shall generally 
be 5 inches below the top of the curb, except where given differ- 
ently on the drawings, or where a change is directed by the 
Engineer, to insure proper surface drainage. 

Crowning or Rise. The crowning or rise of the finished pave- 
ments in the driveways shall be uniform from the gutters toward 
the center of the street ; and at the rate of 2^ per cent for granite 
block or vitrified-clay brick or block pavement, and 2^ per cent 
for asphalt pavement; except at intersections, or where the sur- 
face drainage demands a different crown, or as may be directed 
by the Engineer. Gutter and crown stakes must be set every 50 
feet. The rise of the sidewalk pavement shall be as directed by 
the Engineer. 

DRIVEWAY PAVEMENTS OF VITRIFIED=CLAY BRICKS OR 
BLOCKS, GRANITE BLOCKS, AND ASPHALT 

Bed. The bed for driveway paving shall be graded from 
curb to curb, and thoroughly compacted by rolling with a heavy 
steam roller, weighing not less than 5 gross tons, until the surface 
shall be accurate to subgrade and parallel to it. The subgrade 
shall be below the intended finished grade, as follows : for vitri- 
fied-clay brick or block pavement, 11 inches; for granite block 
pavement, 15 inches; for asphalt pavement, 9 inches. All soft 
and spongy places shall be excavated and refilled with gravel 
or broken stone before rolling. The use of a horse roller will be 
allowed where, in the judgment of the Engineer, the use of a 
steam road roller may be impracticable on account of steep grades 
or other local conditions. 

Concrete Foundation. Mixing and Laying. Upon the bed 
shall be laid a layer 6 inches thick of Portland cement concrete 
in which is used stone crushed to pass a IJ-inch ring. The con- 
crete shall be rammed with 25-pound rammers until free mortar 
appears on the surface, which surface shall be parallel to and 
below the top of the finished pavement, as follows : 5 inches for 
vitrified-clay brick or block pavement; 9 inches for granite 
block pavement ; and 3 inches for asphalt pavement. 

Carting and Wheeling. No carting or wheeling will be 
allowed on the concrete until covered by paving. 

Tests. The concrete foundation shall be capable of sustain- 
ing such test as the Engineer shall deem necessary. 

Kept Clean and in Advance of Paving. In paving, the Con- 
tractor must keep the concrete base to the proper grade or slope 
at least 100 feet in advance of his paving, and the latter must 
be laid in sections the full width of the street. The concrete 



104 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

surface shall be thoroughly cleaned of gravel, rubbish, or cover- 
ing of any description, before any mortar or sand is placed in 
which the bricks or blocks are to be bedded. 

VITRIFIED=CLAY BRICK OR BLOCK PAVING 

Samples for Testing. When paving with vitrified-clay bricks 
or blocks is required, the Contractor shall submit sample, bricks 
or blocks, and afford every facility for inspection and testing at 
least 10 days before desiring to use them. The failure of any 
shipment on any w^ork to meet the requirements may prohibit the 
further use of the same manufacture on that work. 

Size and Quality. The bricks or blocks must be vitrified fire- 
clay, re-pressed, and especially burned for street paving, not less 
than 9 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. They shall 
be tough, homogeneous, compact in structure, and burned to a 
uniform consistency. They shall be free from laminations or 
''fire cracks" or "checks" of more than superficial extent; shall 
be free from nodules of lime or magnesia or other soluble matter; 
and shall show^ no signs of cracking after 48 hours' immersion 
in water maintained at normal temperature (60-70° F.). 

Variations in Size. All bricks or blocks will be allowed a 
proper shrinkage, but they must not vary more than 3 per cent 
from the accepted samples. All bricks or blocks so distorted in 
burning as to lie unevenly in the pavement w^ill be rejected. 

Shape. The bricks or blocks must have two or more ribs or 
projections upon one of the vertical sides, extending from top to 
bottoi^; on the opposite vertical side of the brick or block, a 
groove or channel extending longitudinally from the end of the 
brick or block, and connecting with a like transverse groove ex- 
tending across each end ; thus serving by contact with the flat 
side of an adjoining brick or block, to secure a separation, in 
order that cementing material, flowing into the grooves, may 
effect a practical encircling of each brick or block, thus keying 
or locking together the entire pavement. 

Testing. Samples of bricks or blocks for testing will be se- 
lected at random from actual shipments delivered on the work, 
and must yield the following results : 

Five of the bricks or blocks so sampled will be tested transversely and shall 
develop an average strength sufficient to sustain a load of 3000 pounds per 
inch of width. The bricks or blocks in this test shall be supported edgewise, 
on rounded knife edges placed 6 inches apart; the breaking load being applied 
centrally. Five bricks or blocks shall be placed in a standard polygonal rum- 
bler (20 inches wide, 30 inches in diameter), together with 10 cast-iron bricks 
(weighing 6 pounds each), having rounded edges. This rumbler Will be revolved 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 105 

2000 times at the rate of 35 revolutions per minute, and the brick must not 
show an average loss of more than 18 per cent. The bricks or blocks coming 
from the rumbler shall be dried for 24 hours at a temperature of not less than 
212° F. ; and after 48 hours' immersion in water, maintained at a normal 
temperature, shall not show an absorption of more than 4 per cent. 

Laying. The bricks or blocks must be set vertically on edge 
in close contact with each other, in straight rows across the street, 
excepting at intersections, which shall be paved at an angle of 
45 degrees to the lines of the intersecting roadways, and those 
in adjoining rows so set as to break joints regularly. No bats 
or broken bricks or blocks shall be used except at curbs, or 
adjoining passenger railway rails, where half bricks or blocks 
must be used to break joints. The bricks or blocks shall be 
bedded in a layer of Portland cement mortar 1 inch in thickness, 
freshly mixed, and laid upon the concrete foundation as the 
placing of the bricks or blocks progresses. They shall be true to 
the required finished surface when completed, and shall be settled 
in place, after depositing, by placing a plank upon their tops 
and ramming the plank as required, with wooden rammers, before 
the mortar bedding has time to set and as the work progresses. 

Grouting. After the bricks or blocks are laid, they shall be 
grouted with Portland cement grouting, consisting of one part 
cement to one part clean bar sand, mixed with water to such 
consistency that it will readily permeate the joints, filling all 
joints flush with the surface. 

Car Tracks. When car tracks cross the deck of a bridge, a 
line of fitted granite blocks or slag blocks shall be laid on each 
side of each rail, placed longitudinally or as stretchers. The 
blocks so used shall be made especially for street paving, shall 
have beveled edges on top, and be of size and quality to be ap- 
proved by the Engineer upon the submission of samples properly 
labeled, the accepted sample to be the standard. All voids under 
the heads and side bearing flanges, between the webs of the rails 
and the paving blocks, shall be filled with special molded bricks, 
thoroughly grouted with Portland cement grout to fill all crevices. 

GRANITE BLOCK PAVING ON CONCRETE BASE 

Granite Blocks. Granite blocks shall be fitted blocks of ap- 
proved Eastern granite, with square heads and bottoms, and in 
sizes from 6 to 6^ inches in depth, 3^ inches in width, 8 to 12 
inches in length ; 4 inches in width, 8 to 12 inches in length ; and 
^ inches in width, 8 to 12 inches in length ; to be sorted at the 
quarries at the above sizes, kept separate, and delivered and set 



106 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

separately; all the faces of the blocks shall be non-warped and 
parallel ; free from bunches, depressions, and inequalities exceed- 
ing one-fourth inch; and no stones shall measure less than the 
above-named lowest figures. 

Laying. Upon the concrete foundation for granite block 
paving shall be placed a layer 3 inches thick of sharp, approved, 
coarse New Jersey paving sand, upon which the blocks shall be 
bedded. Granite blocks shall be properly assorted or gaged, those 
of the same width and depth to be placed in consecutive rows ; blocks 
differing in width more than one-fourth inch will not be allowed 
in the same row. They shall be placed vertically on edge in close 
contact with each other across the street; in straight rows and 
at right angles to the curbing, except at intersections, where 
they shall be placed at an angle of 45 degrees to the lines of the 
intersecting roadways. Blocks in adjoining rows shall be set to 
break joints by a space not less than 4 inches, and when thor- 
oughly rammed they shall be brought to the exact grade. Joints 
shall not be more than one-half inch in thickness. At all times dur- 
ing the progress of the work 100 lineal feet of the paving must be 
laid continually in advance of filling and ramming, to permit the 
proper inspection of the blocks and the work. The pavement 
must be laid so that the blocks shall be uniform in width in sec- 
tions across the full width of the street. 

Ramming — Filling Joints. The pavements shall be rammed 
three times with 55-pound rammers, until no further settling 
occurs under the ramming. While being ramm.ed the joints shall 
be kept well filled with dry pebbles. Any blocks that do not 
conform to the exact grade shall be reset and re-rammed. The 
pebbles for filling joints shall be quartz, hard, clean, well washed, 
and not easily crushed, one-eighth to one-fourth inch in diameter, 
entirely free from dust, dirt, or foreign material, and thoroughly 
dry when delivered. Immediately after the final ramming the peb- 
bles shall be swept out to a depth of 1 inch from the top of the 
pavement, and the joints filled with hot paving pitch, applied in 
liquid form. The pitch must be prepared for paving purposes, so 
that it can be easily applied in the liquid state when artificially 
heated, and used to fill the joints thoroughly and not spread over 
the face of the paving. While the paving pitch is still hot, dry sand 
shall be spread very thinly over the entire surface of the pavement. 

Dry Material. If the weather be damp while the paving is 
being done, or if the pebbles become wet, they shall be artificially 
heated and kept hot until they are flooded with the paving pitch. 

Tracks. When passenger railway tracks are to be laid, one 
line of granite blocks shall be laid longitudinally, or as stretchers, 
along each side of each rail. All voids under the heads and 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 107 

treads of the rails shall be filled with specially molded bricks, and 
then thoroughly grouted to fill all voids. 

TELFORD PAVING 

Roadbed. The bed shall be thoroughly compacted by rolling 
with a steam roller w^eighing not less than 5 gross tons, to be 
parallel to and 12 inches below the finished surface, as given by 
the District Surveyor. 

Sub-Stone Pavement. Upon the bed shall be placed a sub- 
stone pavement not less than 8 inches deep, consisting of hard 
approved stones, not less than 12 inches in their longest diameter, 
placed vertically on edge, in rows square across the driveway, 
so as to break joints. Projecting points in the subpavement 
shall be broken off with knapping hammers, after which more 
stone shall be broken by hand on top and wedged between the 
pavement stones until all cavities are filled. 

Surface Layers. A layer of clean loam, not less than 1 inch 
thick, shall be deposited on top of the sub-stone pavement. Suffi- 
cient crushed stone, crushed to pass a 1^-inch ring, of hard trap 
rock, free from dirt, shall be deposited on the surface, and rolled 
with the steam roller previously specified, so that there shall not 
be less than 4 inches of the crushed stone on top of the founda- 
tion stone. After rolling the crushed stone, a covering of fine 
stone, breaker scale, or screenings of trap rock shall be evenly 
spread, kept wet, and rolled continuously, until the whole shall 
be a compact mass, 2 inches above the finished surface as fixed 
by the Engineer. 

CURBING 

Materials. Curbing shall be furnished where required by the 
drawings, and shall be either of steel protected granolithic or of 
first quality granite. Granite shall be neither laminated nor 
stratified, shall be hammer-dressed on the face at least 12 inches 
deep over all of the top surface, and 3 inches deep on the back to 
receive the sidewalk pavement. 

All joints shall be close joints, the full depth and width of 
the stones. 

Dimensions. Curbing shall be either 6 or 8 inches wide on 
top, as specified; 8-inch curbing shall be 24 inches in depth and 
10 inches in width at the base ; 6-inch curbing shall be 22 inches 
in depth and 8 inches in width at the base. 

Straight curbing shall not be less than 6 feet in length, and 
curved curbing shall not be less than 5 feet in length, and no 
closure shall be less than 4 feet in length. Where curved curbs 



108 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTKACTS 

are required in excess of 8 feet iu length the stone may be in 
two pieces, either of which may be less than 5 feet in length, but 
the joint must be in the center. 

Foundations. Curbs shall be set upon a solid foundation pre- 
pared for them, of coarse gravel or spalls, backed with gravel, 
all solidly rammed. 

The foundation of the sidewalk paving back of the curbs shall 
be thoroughly compacted by ramming, before the sidewalk paving 
is laid. 

Curbstones set adjacent to inlets shall be square on their ends 
the full depth of the stones, and the castings for inlet covers, 
stop boxes, or other municipal or other castings, shall be cut into 
the curbing, flush with the top of the curb. 

Curved Curbs. "When curved curbs are placed, the Contractor 
shall extend the crossing stones to conform to the radius curbs. 
All curved curbing shall be cut exactly true to the radius ordered, 
and set to the lines and grades to be obtained from the Engineer. 

Joints. All joints of curbing shall be thoroughly back filled, 
and made water-tight from the base to the top of the curbing with 
Portland cement mortar, made of one part Portland cement, and 
two parts clean sand, thoroughly mixed into a stiff mortar. 

All curbs moved or displaced, or any sidewalks injured or 
destroyed by the Contractor, or those employed by him, either 
while grading for the paving or in the handling, placing, or 
removal of materials, supplies, etc., must be reset, replaced, or 
repaved in proper manner by the Contractor at his expense. 

GRANITE BLOCK PAVING ON SAND BASE 

Preparation of Foundation. The spaces to be paved between 
the lines shown on the plans shall be graded and thoroughly 
compacted by rolling with a heavy steam roller, weighing not 
less than 12 gross tons, until the surface shall be brought accu- 
rately to subgrade and parallel with and 10 inches below the 
finished surface. All soft places shall be dug out and filled with 
paving sand. The subgrade must be compacted to a solid foun- 
dation, and must be approved before the block paving is laid. 
Sharp, approved, coarse paving sand shall be spread upon the 
foundation, to a depth of at least 4 inches, upon which the blocks 
shall be bedded. 

Granite Blocks. Granite blocks shall be fitted blocks of ap- 
proved granite 3J to 4 inches wide, 6 to 6i inches deep, 8 to 12 
inches long, with square heads, smooth faces, and rectangular 
edges. They shall be subject to inspection and shall be gaged 
and sorted by men furnished by the Contractor; any blocks re- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 109 

jeeted shall be immediately removed from the vicinity of the 
work. Those of the same width and depth shall be placed in con- 
secutive rows, and blocks differing in width more than one-fotirth 
inch shall not be allowed in the same row. They shall be placed ver- 
tically on edge in close contact with each other across the space 
to be paved ; in straight rows and at right angles to the curbing, 
except at intersections, where they shall be placed at an angle 
of 45 degrees to the lines of the intersecting roadways. Blocks 
in the adjoining rows shall be set to break joints by a space of 
not less than 4 inches, and when thoroughly rammed they shall 
be brought to the exact grade. Joints shall not be more than one- 
half inch in thickness. At all times during the progress of the work, 
about 100 lineal feet of the paving shall be laid continuously in 
advance of filling and ramming, to permit the proper inspection 
of the work. The pavement shall be laid so that the blocks shall 
be uniform in width in sections across the full width of the space 
being paved. 

Filling Joints. The joints between the blocks shall then at 
once be filled with paving sand and shall be rammed three times 
with 55-pound rammers until no further settling occurs under 
the ramming. While being rammed the joints should be kept 
well filled with paving sand. Any blocks that do not conform 
to the exact grade shall be reset and rammed. 

Payment. Payment will be made for this paving at the price 
per square yard given in the proposal, which price shall include 
everything except such excavation as may be necessary for pre- 
paring the subgrade. 

ASPHALT PAVING 

Samples to be Submitted. If asphalt pavement is to be laid, 
the Contractor shall submit to the Commissioner of Highways 
samples of the materials he intends to use, together with certifi- 
cates and statements as follows: 

(1) Specimens of asphalt and asphaltum, with a certificate 
stating w^here the specimens were mined. 

(2) A specimen of the asphaltic cement, with a statement of 
the elements of the bituminous cements used in the composition 
of the paving surface. 

(3) Specimens of sand intended to be used. 

(4) Specimens of pulverized carbonate of lime, granite, or 
quartz intended to be used. 

(5) A certificate, if the material proposed to be used has not 

heretofore been used in the City of. , showing some 

other locality where pavement of such material has been laid, 
its area, date of acceptance, which must have been at least 2 



110 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

years previous to the issuance of the certificate, and showing 
that said pavement has worn well and satisfactorily; all to be 
signed and acknowledged by the chief municipal officer having 
charge of said work in the city or cities where such pavement 
has been laid. 

Such specimens, certificates, and statements must be, in the 
judgment of the Engineer, equal in all respects to similar con- 
ditions exacted by the Department of Highways for other asphalt 
pavement in the City of 

Subgrade for Asphalt. The backfilling on the top of the 
trench shall be of clean gravel or sand, or other wholesome earth, 
free from all spongy or vegetable material ; and thoroughly rolled 
with a roller weighing not less than 10 tons, so that the top of 
the filling is parallel to the crown of the street and 9 inches 
below it; except beneath the stone block pavement adjoining 
rails, manhole heads, and stopcock boxes, where the depth below 
the finished grade shall be 13J inches. When the roller cannot 
reach every portion of the roadbed, the bottom shall be rolled 
by a small roller, or tamped, as directed by the Engineer, and 
water shall be sprinkled on such bottom when required. Upon 
the foundation thus prepared, there shall be laid a bed of hy- 
draulic cement concrete 6 inches in thickness, and made as 
follows : 

Cement. All cement must be of the best quality, of fresh- 
ground best American Portland cement, and shall be tested and 
approved by the Engineer before being used. 

Portland Cement Concrete. Concrete shall be composed of 1 
part of cement, 3 parts of clean sharp sand, and 7 parts of 
broken stone; or 1 part of cement, 3 parts of clean sharp sand, 
4 parts of broken stone, and 3 parts of pebbles by measure. 

Mixing. The cement and sand shall be mixed dry ; the broken 
stone having been first wetted shall then be added and the mass 
turned over, with the addition of the necessary water, and worked 
until the broken stone is completely incorporated. 

Pebbles. The pebbles shall be hard, clean, free from sand, 
screened and washed, and of a size that has passed a sieve of 
IJ-inch mesh and rejected by a three-fourths-inch mesh. 

Broken Stone. The broken stone shall be solid trap, limestone, 
or granite, free from dust or dirt, and of a graded size not larger 
in any dimension than will pass through a 2-inch ring; and it 
shall be crushed and screened before being brought upon the 
work ; and no crushing shall be done on the work. 

Concrete to be Rammed. The concrete shall be placed in 
proper position and there rammed with wooden rammers until 
thoroughly compacted; the surface shall be 3 inches below 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 111 

the grade of the top of the finished pavement and exactly parallel 
thereto. 

The concrete foundation shall be capable of sustaining such 
test as the Engineer shall deem necessary. 

No carting or wheeling shall be allowed on the concrete until 
it is sufficiently set, and then only on planks laid down for the 
purpose. 

Mixing Concrete. The whole operation of mixing and laying 
each batch, which shall not contain more than 1 barrel of cement, 
must be performed as expeditiously as possible by the employ- 
ment of a sufficient number of skilled men and, if necessary, must 
be protected from the action of the sun and wind until set. No 
concrete will be allowed to be used which has been mixed more 
than 30 minutes. 

Bituminous Binder. Composition. Upon this concrete foun- 
dation must be laid a fine bituminous concrete or binder, to be 
composed of clean broken stone not exceeding IJ inches in their 
largest dimensions, thoroughly screened, and either coal-tar re- 
siduum, commonly known as No. 4 paving composition, or the 
same bitumen used in the body of the pavement. 

Stone to he Heated. The stone must be heated by being passed 
through revolving heaters and must be thoroughly mixed by 
machinery, with the paving composition in the proportion of 1 
gallon of paving composition to 1 cubic foot of stone. 

Laying of Binder. This binder must be hauled to the work 
and spread with hot iron rakes in all holes or inequalities and 
depressions below the true grade of the pavements, to such thick- 
ness that, after being thoroughly compacted by tamping and 
hand rolling, the surface shall have a uniform grade and cross 
section, and the thickness of the binder at any point shall be not 
less than three-fourths inch. No binder shall be laid during a rain, 
nor shall any binder be laid that is too cold to be manipulated 
easily ; overheated binder shall be removed entirely from the work. 

The upper surface shall be exactly parallel with the surface 
of the pavement to be laid. 

Wearing Surface. Upon this foundation must be laid the 
wearing surface, or paving proper, the basis of which must be 
pure asphaltum, unmixed with any of the products of coal tar. 

The wearing surface will be composed of: 

(1) Refined asphaltum; (2) heavy petroleum oil; (3) fine 
sand, containing not more than 1 per cent of hydrosilicate of 
alumina; (4) fine powder of carbonate of lime, granite, or quartz. 

Heavy Petroleum Oil. The heavy petroleum oil must be freed 
from all impurities and brought to a specific gravity of from 
18° to 22° Baume, and a fire test of 250° F., or, if the formula 



112 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

of the Contractor requires it, the powdered carbonate of lime 
may be omitted, and the heavy petroleum oil may be replaced 
by sufficiently fluid natural bitumen. 

Asphalt um. The asphaltum used must be equal in quality to 
that mined from the Pitch Lake on the Island of Trinidad, or 
from the Alcatraz mine, Santa Barbara County, California, and 
must be specially refined and brought to a uniform standard of 
purity and gravity, of a quality to be approved by the Engineer. 

Asphaltic Cement. From these two hydrocarbons shall be 
manufactured an asphaltic cement which shall have a fire test 
of 250° F., and, at a temperature of 60° F., shall have a specific 
gravity of 1.19, said cement to be composed of 100 parts of pure 
asphalt, and from 15 to 20 parts of heavy petroleum oil. 

Pavement Mixture. The asphaltic cement being made in the 
manner above described, the pavement mixture must be formed 
of the following materials, and in the proportions stated : 

Asphaltic cement From 12 to 15 

Sand From 83 to 70 

Pulverized carbonate of lime, gran- 
ite, or quartz From 5 to 15 

Sand. The sand shall be of such size that none of it shall 
pass a No. 80 screen, and that the whole of it shall pass a No. 10 
screen. 

Powdered Stone. The powdered carbonate of lime, granite, ot 
quartz shall be of such a degree of fineness that from 5 to 15 per 
cent by weight of the entire mixture for the pavement shall 
be an impalpable powder of limestone, and the whole of it shall 
pass a No. 26 screen. 

How Mixed. The sand and asphaltic cement are to be heated 
separately to about 300° F. The pulverized carbonate of lime, 
granite, or quartz, while cold, shall be mixed with the hot sand 
in the required proportions, and then mixed in a suitable apparatus 
with the asphaltic cement at the required temperature, and in the 
proportions which will effect a j)erfect mixture. 

Laying of Pavement Mixture. The pavement mixture prepared 
in the manner thus indicated must be brought to the ground in 
carts, at a temperature of about 250° F. and, if the temperature 
of the air is less tlian 50° F., iron carts, with heating appara- 
tus, shall be used in order to maintain the proper temperature 
of the mixture ; it shall then be carefully spread by means of 
hot iron rakes in such manner as to give a uniform and regular 
grade. The surface shall be compressed by hand rollers, after 
which a small amount of hydraulic cement shall be sAvept over it, 
and it shall then be thoroughly compressed by a steam roller 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 113 

weighing not less than 250 pounds to the inch run, the rolling to 
be continued for not less than 5 hours for every 1000 square 
yards of surface. After having received its ultimate compres- 
sion, the pavement must have a thickness of not less than 2 inches. 

Gutters. The gutters for a width of 12 inches next the curb 
must be coated with hot, pure asphalt, and smoothed with hot 
smoothing irons in order to saturate the pavement, to a depth to 
be directed by the Engineer, with an excess of asphalt. 

Rock Asphalt. If rock asphalt be used, the material shall be 
an amorphous limestone, which is naturally, thoroughly, and uni- 
formly impregnated with bitumen: (1) From the Sicilian mines 
at E-agusa and Verwohle, equal in quality and composition to 
that mined by the United Limmer and Verwohle Rock Asphalte 
Company, Limited. (2) From the Swiss mines at Val de Tr avers, 
equal in quality and composition to that mined by The Neuchatel 
Asphalte Company, Limited. Or (3) from the French mines at 
Seyssel and Mons, and the Sicilian mines at Ragusa, equal in 
quality and composition to that mined by the Compagnie Generale 
des Asphaltes de France, Limited, and it shall be prepared and laid 
as follows: 

Preparation. The rock shall be finely crushed and pulverized ; 
the powder shall then be passed through a fine sieve. Nothing 
whatever shall be added to or taken from the powder obtained 
by grinding the bituminous rock. The powder shall contain 9 
to 12 per cent natural bitumen ; 88 to 91 per cent pure carbonate 
of lime ; and must be free from quartz, sulphates, iron pyrites, or 
aluminum. 

Powder to he Heated. This powder shall be heated in a suit- 
able apparatus to 200° -250° F., and must be brought to the ground 
at such temperature, in carts made for the purpose; then care- 
fully spread on the binder foundation previously prepared to such 
depth that, after having received its ultimate compression, it will 
have a thickness of not less than 2 inches. 

Surface to he Rolled. The surface shall be rendered perfectly 
even by rammers and smoothers, and shall be rolled with a steam 
roller weighing not less than 250 pounds to the inch run, the 
rolling to continue for not less than 5 hours for each 1000 square 
yards of surface in the case of Trinidad asphalt ; in the case of 
rock asphalt pavement the ultimate compression may be by 
heated pilons. 

Special Permission to Lay Rock Asphalt. Rock asphalt shall 
not be used in any case without written permission from the 
Commissioner of Highways. 

Space Next to Rails, Manholes, etc. On each side of the rails 
of the car tracks, around all manholes and stopcock boxes, the 



114 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Contractor, when required, shall lay a line of granite or syenite 
paving blocks, as headers; long and short stones alternating and 
toothing into the pavement, laid on a foundation of 6 inches of 
concrete, which must extend to the depth of the crossties and 
beneath and around the girders and stringers; on which shall 
be laid a bed of fresh cement mortar, 2 inches in thickness; and 
on the mortar so laid shall be laid the stone blocks, the top sur- 
face of which shall conform to the grade of the pavement. The 
joints of the blocks shall be filled with paving cement, as here- 
inafter described. 

Space within Car Tracks. Whenever the space within car 
tracks has been laid with granite or syenite blocks, the said space 
shall be repaved with said blocks or said asphalt, according to 
the determination of the Engineer. 

REFINED ASPHALT 
Solid Bitumen Base 

Materials and Tests. The refined asphalt to be used for paving 
mixtures herein required shall be derived in the following 
manner : 

1. By heating crude, natural, solid asphalt, requiring refine- 
ment, to a temperature of not over 450° F., until all the water 
has been driven off. Crude, natural, solid asphalt shall be con- 
strued to mean any natural mineral bitumen, either pure or 
mixed with foreign matter, from which, through natural causes 
in the process of time, the light oils have been driven off until it 
has a consistency harder than 100 penetration at 77° F. At least 
98 J per cent of the contained bitumen in the refined asphalt, which 
is soluble in cold carbon disulphide, shall be soluble in cold carbon 
tetrachloride. In no case shall such asphalt be prepared at the 
refinery with any product not hereinafter provided for. 

2. By the careful distillation of asphaltic petroleum with 
continvious agitation until the resulting bitumen has a consistency 
not harder than 30 penetration at 77° F. 

(a) All shipments of material shall be marked with a lot 
number and penetration; and ten samples, taken at random 
from each lot, shall not vary more than 15 per cent from the 
average penetration, provided no part of any shipment shall 
be below 30 penetration at 77° F. 

(b) The solid bitumen so obtained shall be soluble in 
carbon tetrachloride to the extent of 98J per cent. 

(c) When 20 grams of the material are heated for 5 hours 
at a temperature of 325° F. in a tin box 2J inches in diameter, 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 115 

after the manner officially prescribed, the material shall not 
lose over 5 per cent by weight nor shall the penetration at 
77° F. after such heating be less than one-half of the original 
penetration. 

(d) The solid bitumen at a penetration of 50 shall have 
a ductility of not less than 20 centimeters at 77° F. If the 
penetration varies from 50, an increase of at least 2 centi- 
meters in ductility will be required for each five points in pene- 
tration above 50 ; and a corresponding allowance will be made 
below 50 penetration. This test shall be made with a briquette 
of cross section of one square centimeter, the material being 
elongated at the rate of 5 centimeters per minute. (Dow 
molds). 

Note. — Combinations of asphaltic bitumens having the ductihty and other 
characteristics above mentioned are admitted under Section 2. 

3. Refined asphalt produced by combining crude natural 
asphalt with either of the following : 

(a) Residuums obtained by the distillation of petroleum 
oils as specified under fluxes. 

(b) Asphalts obtained by the distillation of petroleum oils 
as specified. 

Use of Bitumen Mixtures. Fluxes. In the use of these mix- 
tures of refined asphalts for asphaltic cements, only asphaltic 
or semi-asphaltic fluxes shall be used, except in those cases where 
the solid natural asphalt is of such character that when mixed 
with paraffin flux, without the addition of any other material, it 
will produce an asphaltic cement complying with the require- 
ments set forth under that head. In such cases any of the fluxes 
elsewhere specified may be used. 

Inspection. The preparation and refining of all asphalt ad- 
mitted under these specifications shall be subject to such inspec- 
tion at the paving plants and refineries as the Engineer m.ay 
direct. 

Flux 

Material. The fluxing material may be a paraffin, a semi- 
asphaltic, or an asphaltic residue which shall be tested with and 
found suitable to the asphalts to be used. 

Tests. Penetration. The residuums must have a penetration 
greater than 350, with a No. 2 needle at 77° F. under 50 grams 
weight for 1 second. 

Sohihility. All residuums shall be soluble in cold carbon tetra- 
chloride to the extent of 99 per cent, and must remain soft after 
heating for 5 hours at 400° P. 



116 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Miscellaneous, (a) The paraffin residuum shall have a specific 
gravity of from 0.92 to 0.94 at 11° F. It shall not flash below 350° 
F. when tested in the New York State Closed Oil Tester, and shall 
not volatilize more than 5 per cent of material when heated 5 
hours at 325° F. in a tin box 2J inches in diameter, as officially 
prescribed. The residue after heating shall flow at 77° F. and 
shall be homogeneous and shall sho^v no coarse crystals. 

(b) Semi-asphaltic residuum shall have the same general char- 
acteristics as paraffin residuum except that it shall have a spe- 
cific gravity of 0.94 to 0.98 at 77° F. 

Asphaltic Cement 

Proportions of Asphalt and Flux. The asphaltic cement pre- 
pared from materials above designated shall be made up from 
the refined asphalt or asphalts, and the flux, w^iere flux must be 
used, in such proportions as to produce an asphaltic cement of a 
suitable degree of penetration. The proportion of the refined 
asphalt, comprising the cement, shall in no case be less than 40 
per cent by weight. 

When the weight of flux in the asphaltic cement prepared 
from solid natural asphalt exceeds 25 per cent thereof, asphaltic 
or semi-asphaltic flux shall be used. 

Refined asphalts and flux comprising the asphaltic cement 
shall, when required, be weighed separately in the presence of 
the authorized inspectors or agents of the Engineer. 

Method of Mixing. Refined asphalts and flux used in prepar- 
ing the cement shall be melted together in a kettle at a tempera- 
ture ranging from 250° to not over 375° F. ; and shall be 
thoroughly agitated w^hen heated by air, steam, or mechanical 
appliances, until the resulting cement has become thoroughly 
mixed into a homogeneous mass. The agitation must be continued 
during the entire period of preparing the mixtures. Cement shall 
always be of uniform consistency and, if any portion should 
settle in the kettle, between intervals of using the same, it must 
be thoroughly agitated before being draw^n for use. 

Tests, (a) The asphaltic cement shall have a penetration of 
from 40 to 75, which shall be varied within these limits to adapt 
it to the particular asphalt used in the paving mixture and to the 
traffic and other conditions. The exact amount of penetration 
shall be fixed by the Engineer. 

(b) When 20 grams of the asphaltic cement of the penetration 
to be used in the paving mixture shall be heated for 5 hours at a 
temperature of 325° F., in an oven as officially specified, there 
must not be volatilized more than 5 per cent of the bitumen pres- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 117 

ent, nor shall the penetration at 77° F. after such heating be less 
than one-half of the original penetration. 

(c) A briquette of the asphaltic cement, having a cross sec- 
tion of one square centimeter, when at a penetration of 50, shall 
elongate to the extent of not less than 20 centimeters at 77° F. 
If the asphaltic cement as used in the paving mixture varies from 
50 penetration, an increase of at least 2 centimeters in ductility 
will be required for each 5 points in penetration above 50, and 
a corresponding allowance will be made below 50 penetration. 
(Dow method.) 

Specifications for Sand and Binder Stone 

Sand. The sand shall be hard grained and moderately sharp. 
It shall be so graded as to produce, in the finished surface mix- 
ture, the mesh requirements elsewhere herein specified. It shall 
contain not to exceed 6 per cent of sand that will pass a No. 200 
mesh sieve. 

Binder Stone. Stone to be used for asphaltic concrete binder 
shall be hard and durable, free from all foreign substances, and 
of uniformly varying sizes, from 1 inch down. 

Laying the Pavement 

Asphaltic Concrete Binder. Preparation. Asphaltic concrete 
binder shall be made as follows : The binder stone and sand as 
above specified shall be heated to 200°-325° F. in suitable appli- 
ances. Stone and sand shall be measured off separately; and 
then be mixed wdth sufficient asphaltic cement prepared as here- 
tofore specified, in such proportions that the resulting aggregate 
will contain by weight material passing a No. 10 mesh screen, 
between 25 and 35 per cent and bitumen in quantity from 5 to 8 
per cent of the entire mixture. 

Binder thus prepared shall be a compact mass containing a 
minimum of voids. 

Laying. The asphaltic concrete binder shall be brought to 
the work in wagons covered with canvas or other suitable mate- 
rial, and upon reaching the street shall have a temperature of 
200° -325° F. It shall be placed upon the concrete foundation 
and raked to a uniform surface to such depth that, after being 
rolled and thoroughly compacted, it shall have an average thick- 
ness of 1 inch and shall be 2 inches below, and parallel to, the 
surface of the finished pavement. The surface, after compres- 
sion, shall show at no place an excess of asphaltic cement, and 
any spot covering an area of 1 square foot or more, showing an 
excess of asphaltic cement, shall be cut out and replaced with 



118 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

other material. Smaller spots may be dried by the use of stone 
dust and smoothers. Any asphaltic concrete binder broken up 
during the process of laying must be removed and replaced with 
new material. No more binder shall be laid at any one time than 
can be covered by a 2 days' run of the paving plant on surface 
mixture. 

Asphaltic Surface Mixture or Wearing Course. Specifications. 
The surface mixture shall consist of asphaltic cement, Portland 
cement or stone dust, and sand proportioned by weight, so that 
the resulting mixture will contain average proportions of the 
whole mixture as follows : 

Bitumen soluble in cold carbon disul- 

phide 9.5 to 13.5% 

Portland cement or stone dust pass- 
ing a No. 200 sieve 10.0 to 15.07o 

Sand passing a No. 80 sieve 18.0 to 36.0% 

Sand passing a No. 40 sieve 20.0 to 50.0% 

Sand passing a No. 10 sieve 8.0 to 25.0% 

Sand passing a No. 4 sieve Up to 10.0% 

Note. — Sieves to be used in the order named. 

The item designated as "Portland cement or stone dust pass- 
ing a No. 200 sieve", within the limits named herein, includes, 
in addition to the Portland cement or stone dust, fine sand passing 
a No. 200 sieve not exceeding 4^ per cent of the total mixture, 
and such 200-mesh mineral dust naturally self-contained in the 
refined asphalt. 

Mixing. Sand and asphaltic cement shall be heated separately 
to about 300° F. ; the maximum temperature of the sand at the 
mixers shall in no case be in excess of 375° F. and the maximum 
temperature of the asphaltic cement shall not exceed 325° F. at 
the discharge pipe. The Portland cement or stone dust shall be 
mixed with the hot sand and in the required proportions; and 
then these shall be mixed for at least 1 minute, with the asphaltic 
cement at the required temperature and in the proper propor- 
tions, in a suitable apparatus so as to effect a thoroughly homo- 
geneous mixture. 

The proportion of asphalt cement shall at all times be deter- 
mined by actual weighing with scales attached to the asphaltic 
cement bucket. The weight of the bucket shall be checked up at 
least twice every day. 

The Portland cement or stone dust and sand must also be 
weighed unless a method of gaging approved by the Engineer 
shall be used. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 119 

For the determination of the temperatures required by the 
specifications throughout the process of manufacture, the con- 
tractor shall provide and maintain at the plants suitable regis- 
tering thermometric instruments to be approved by the Engineer. 
Proper weighing devices must also be installed and maintained 
for the determination of the quantities of materials used. 

The Contractor shall furnish every facility for the verification 
of all scales or measures. 

The sand gradings and bitumen may be varied within the 
limits designated at the discretion of the Engineer. 

Laying the Wearing Surface. The asphalt wearing surface 
shall be hauled to the work in wagons provided with a canvas 
or other suitable cover. As placed in the street it shall have a 
minimum temperature of 250° -280° F. as suitable for the asphalt 
used. It shall be dumped at such distance from the work that 
all of the mixture can be turned and distributed to the place 
where it is to be raked; and shall be spread, while hot, to such 
depth upon the asphaltic concrete binder — which must be thor- 
oughly dry, free from leaves, or other foreign matter — that after 
receiving its ultimate compression by rolling, it shall have an 
average thickness of two inches. The initial compression shall 
be effected by means of a small roller, after which a small amount 
of Portland cement or mineral dust shall be swept over the sur- 
face. Final compression shall be effected by a roller of not less 
than 200 pounds per inch tread. The rolling shall be carried on 
continuously at the rate of not more than 200 square yards per 
hour. 

All tests herein provided must be conducted according to offi- 
cial methods on file in the office of the Chief Engineer. All pene- 
trations indicated herein, unless otherwise specified, refer to the 
depth of penetration in hundredths of a centimeter of a No. 2 
cambric needle weighted to 100 grams at 77° F. acting for 5 
seconds. 

No asphalt shall be laid when, in the opinion of the Engineer, 
the weather conditions are unsuitable for its proper laying; and 
no asphalt shall be laid unless the surface on which it is to be laid 
is dry. 

After the surface shall have been finished, no horse or vehicle 
traffic of any kind shall be permitted on the pavement until it 
shall have hardened sufficiently. 

Should an asphalt pavement have to be laid adjacent to the 
tracks of a street railroad, granite paving blocks will be laid next 
to the track, for which the Contractor will be paid the price 
named in the proposal for new granite block paving upon cement 
concrete foundation. 



120 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

The granite blocks sliall be laid upon a cement concrete foun- 
dation, mixed in accordance with these specifications, which shall 
extend to the depth of the bottom of the crosstics. 

The top of the blocks shall be even with the surface of the tread 
of the rail, which must conform with the grade of the street. The 
blocks shall be laid before the wearing surface is laid upon the 
driveway, thoroughly backed with cement concrete, carefully 
rammed to a firm bed. All joints must be thoroughly filled with 
cement grouting composed of one part fresh ground Portland 
cement and one part clean approved sand. 

Asphalt-filled manhole covers and frames, when ordered by 
the Engineer, shall be placed on all manholes where such frames 
and covers have not already been placed. Payment for all such 
frames and covers will be made at the prices named in the 
proposal. 

WOOD=BLOCK PAVEMENT 

Material Specifications. The wood-block pavement layer shall 

be inches thick, as required by the traffic and conditions 

of the street ; and constructed of the materials and in the manner 
hereinafter specified. 

Long-Leaf Yellow Fine. The wood from which the blocks are 
made must be regular, sound, commercial, merchantable, long-leaf 
yellow pine, which shall be well manufactured, saw-butted, free 
from large coarse knots or very coarse grain, and free from the 
following defects : unsound, loose, and hollow knots, w^orm holes, 
knot holes ; through, round, or other objectionable shakes ; wane, 
checks, bark; incipient or other decay. 

Other Woods. Other woods, as Oregon or Washington Doug- 
las fir, scientifically and practically equal or superior to the above 
mentioned long-leaf pine, which can be equally well creosoted 
and which are satisfactory to the City Engineer, can be used, pro- 
vided that only one kind and quality of wood is used on the same 
street or contract and further provided that only one kind of 
wood is treated and creosoted at one time. 

Wood BlocltS. The paving blocks, cut from the lumber or 
wood above specified, shall be well manufactured, truly rectangu- 
lar, and uniform. They shall be dressed on all sides; except the 
top and bottom, both of wiiich shall be evenly and smoothly 
sawed. No block shall vary in width and depth more than one-six- 
teenth of an inch from others used on the same street or contract. 

The depth shall be inches as already specified. The 

length shall be not less than 6 nor more than 10 inches. The width 
shall be not less than 3 nor more tlian 4 inches, provided that all 
blocks used in one street or contract shall be of the same width. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 121 

Creosote Oil. Amount per Cubic Foot. The blocks shall be 
treated, preserved, or creosoted as hereinafter specified and each 
block shall contain at least 18 pounds of creosote oil per cubic 
foot of wood; or when a block contains much natural pitch it 
shall receive as much creosote as can be forced into it by the 
same process and pressure as is used in the treatment of blocks 
of the same kind of wood which will receive 18 pounds of creosote 
oil per cubic foot; provided, however, that the combined creo- 
sote and natural pitch in all blocks be at least 19 pounds per cubic 
foot. 

Quality Tests. The creosote oil shall be a dead oil of coal tar 
or a coal-tar product. It shall not contain more than 3 per cent 
of water; and if it does contain this amount of water, a corre- 
sponding correction must be made so that an equivalent addi- 
tional amount of creosote is forced into the blocks. It shall 
contain only traces of acetic acid and acetates. Its specific gravity 
at 100° F. (38° C.) shall be at least 1.03 and not more than 1.10, 
so as to assure its thoroughly penetrating the wood blocks. It 
must not leave more than a trace on a filter paper when filtered 
between 60° F. and 77° F. Fractional distillation of 100 grams 
of the creosote oil shall produce percentages of dry oil by weight 
within the following limits: 

Vp to 150° C. (302° F.) no distillate 

Between 150° C. (302° F.) and 170° C. (338° F.) not to exceed 1.5 per cent 

Between 170° C. (338° F.) and 235° C. (445° F.) not to exceed 33.0 per cent 

Between 235° C. (455° F.) and 300° C. (572° F.) not to exceed 35.0 per cent 

The residue shall be soft and adhesive. The creosote oil shall 
contain about 25 per cent of crystallizable naphthalene and at 
least 15 per cent anthracene oils. At least 95 per cent of the 
creosote oil shall be equally soluble in carbon bisulphide and in 
absolute alcohol. 

Treating the Blocks. Sterilizing. The wood blocks, after being 
cut and ready for treatment, shall be placed in a suitable iron 
receptacle or cylinder and there sterilized with dry steam under a 
pressure of at least 30 pounds, and not to exceed 50 pounds per 
square inch during at least 3 hours and as much longer, not to 
exceed 7 hours, as the condition of the wood and the season of 
the year requires. The temperature within the cylinder during 
the process of steaming shall be between 250° F. and 280° F. At 
intervals during this process the condensed steam, sap, and other 
liquid matter shall be drawn from the receptacle by means of 
valves. At the completion of the steaming process, all condensed 
steam and other fluid matter shall be blown from the cylinder 



122 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

tlirougli an opening in its bottom, and the steam shall be caused 
to pass out through an opening in its top. 

Vacuum Treatment. The draining and exhaust valves of the 
cylinder shall then be closed and a vacuum pump shall imme- 
diately produce, as quickly as possible, a vacuum of at least 
24 inches, and as much more as may be necessary; this vacuum 
shall be maintained in the cylinder until moisture and gases cease 
to come from the cylinder. During this process the wood blocks 
within the cylinder shall be kept hot by means of steam coils 
within it. 

Forcing Creosote Oil into the Blocks. Immediately after the 
vacuum treatment and while the vacuum exists, the creosote oil 
at a temperature between 180° F. and 200° F. shall be run into 
the cylinder and forced and maintained under such pressure that 
the wood blocks shall absorb and be impregnated with creosote 
oil to the amount as required above. The excess of creosote oil 
in the cylinder shall then be withdrawn; the blocks drained and 
prepared for shipment. 

Water Absorption. The blocks when ready for use shall not 
absorb more water than an average of 4J per cent of their dry 
weight, after being heated at 100° F. during 12 hours and then 
placed under water 12 hours. 

Indentation Pressure Test. The blocks ready for use must 
meet the indentation pressure test made as follows: The blocks 
to be tested are first dried at 100° F. during 12 hours. Then a 
polished steel die of 1 square inch on its lower face, with square 
edges and corners, and perpendicular sides, is placed on a dried 
block, firmly supported in a compression testing machine. A pres- 
sure of 8000 pounds is applied quickly and maintained exactly 1 
minute. The die must not descend and indent the block more 
than one-eighth of an inch. The measurements are to be taken 
from the time when the die is lightly pressed against the block to 
the instant the 8000-pound pressure has been applied 1 minute. 
The die is placed anywhere within one-half inch of the edges of 
the block and so as to compress lengthwise the wood fibers. 

Inspection of Blocks. The wood blocks shall be inspected by 
the City Engineer at the place of manufacture, or on arrival in 
the city where they are to be used, or when piled adjacent to the 
street to be paved. All blocks not in conformity with the require- 
ments of these specifications will be rejected and must be removed 
from the locality of the pavement to be laid. 

Laying Blocks. The wood blocks are to be laid upon the 
mortar bed immediately after the said bed is ready to receive 
them. Except when otherwise directed by the City Engineer, 
the blocks are to be laid with close joints and at right angles 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 123 

to the curbs; in uniform courses; and so that all longitudinal 
joints shall be covered by a lap of at least 3 inches. No closure or 
end blocks less than 3 inches long shall be used. 

Tight Joints and liolling. The blocks shall be driven or forced 
together as closely as possible during laying, and shall be properly 
rolled or rammed to a firm bearing and uniform surface. 

Defective Blocks. No rolling or ramming shall be done v^ithin 
10 feet of the surface where blocks are being laid. All blocks 
which are broken, split, or otherwise damaged, defective, or dis- 
placed shall be removed immediately after rolling or ramming 
and replaced with sound blocks. 

Filling Joints. After the blocks have been laid and properly 
rammed, their joints shall be filled or grouted with either a suit- 
able bituminous paving joint cement approved by the Engineer, 
or by a cement grout. The bituminous cement must be such as 
not to be too soft in warm weather, and not too brittle in cold 
weather to be a durable and adhesive filler. It must be heated 
until it is so liquid that it will run freely into and fill the joints. 
The cement grout shall be composed of two parts of clean sand 
and one part of an approved brand of Portland cement, mixed 
to a perfectly liquid form; and the surface of the block shall be 
slushed with the same, and the joints shall be swept until they 
are completely filled. 

Surface Sand. Immediately after the grout or bituminous 
cement has filled the joints, there shall be spread over the entire 
pavement a one-half -inch layer of clean, very coarse, dry sand ; or a 
layer of clean, hard, dry, crushed stone screenings with particles 
not exceeding one-fourth inch and not smaller than one-thirty- 
second of an inch in size. This layer of either coarse sand or 
crushed stone screenings is to remain on the pavement while it is 
subjected to traffic for a period of at least a month, or until any 
excess is removed as far as possible or necessary by the City. 

Expansion Joints. Expansion joints shall be constructed 
between the curbs and wood paving blocks to provide for the 
possible expansion and contraction of the blocks by heat or cold 
or other conditions. These expansion joints shall be constructed 
from three-fourths inch to 1 inch wide, according to the width of 
the street, as directed by the Engineer ; and shall extend the whole 
depth of the blocks; and shall be filled with a suitable bituminous 
paving joint cement acceptable to the Engineer. Expansion joints 
of any required width shall be constructed at such other locations 
as the Engineer may direct. Expansion joints must be completely 
filled with suitable strips of wood previous to filling the joints with 
the paving joint cement. 

Any bituminous cement adhering to curbs or sidewalks must 



124 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

be removed by the contractor. The pavement and sidewalk shall 
be free from all surplus materials as soon as the Contractor has 
finished paving the street. 

GRANOLITHIC SIDEWALK PAVEMENTS 

Bed. The sidewalk shall be excavated and graded from the 
curb to the house line, or to the width required, to a subgrade 
18J inches below and parallel to the top of the finished pavement. 
The bed shall be thoroughly compacted by ramming to the pre- 
scribed lines. 

Cinder Foundation. On the subgrade so prepared a founda- 
tion of clean, hard coal cinders, not less than 14 inches thick, shall 
be placed in two 7-inch layers, which shall be well consolidated 
by ramming with a rammer weighing at least 75 pounds, and 
having a face at least 8 inches square. 

The cinders shall be well watered during ramming, and the 
top surfaces shall be brought to a height exactly 4J inches below 
and parallel to the finished surface. 

Concrete Base. On this cinder foundation shall be placed 3 
inches of Portland cement concrete. This ba§e shall be cut by 
joints into blocks not larger than 6 feet square, the joints to 
extend clear through the concrete. 

Wearing Course. On this concrete base, and before the con- 
crete has attained its initial set, shall be placed the finished or 
wearing course. This course shall consist of a stiff mortar com- 
posed of equal parts of Portland cement and the sharp screenings 
of crushed granite or stone of equal quality, to be approved by 
the Engineer, the largest particles of which shall pass through a 
three-eighths-inch ring; and it shall be free from dust, loam, or 
earthy substances; and shall be laid to a full depth of IJ inches, 
carefully floated and troweled to a smooth, even surface. A drier 
mixed in the proportion of 1 part sand to 2 parts Portland cement 
shall be sprinkled in a dry state over the surface, and then floated 
and troweled. This treatment shall be repeated 3 times; after 
which the joints shall be cut through the wearing surface directly 
over the joints in the concrete base, troAveled with a small jointer, 
and the entire surface indented in a manner to be approved by 
the Engineer. 

Tinting. When directed, the drier mixture shall receive the 
blue, black, or other tinting matter to produce the shade Approved 
by the Engineer. 

Sprinkling. When the pavement is completed, it shall be kept 
covered for 3 days, during which time it shall be kept moist by 
sprinkling. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 125 

BRICK PAVEMENT 

For brick sidewalk paving the sidewalk shall be excavated or 
filled and graded from curb to house line or to the width required ; 
and firmly and uniformly compacted, by ramming or rolling, to a 
subgrade of not less than 6 inches below the intended finished 
grade of pavement, and parallel to it. All soft and spongy places 
shall be dug out and properly refilled. Upon the bottom so 
formed shall be placed a layer of sharp clean bar sand, upon 
which the paving brick shall be laid. The bricks shall be straight, 
hard, first quality paving bricks laid in the best workmanlike 
manner. Samples of bricks must be submitted for approval at 
least 10 days before they are desired for use. 

SODDING 

Quality of Sod. The Contractor shall furnish and place grass 
sod on the slope of the embankment and at other places as 
directed by the Chief Engineer. The sod shall be of good quality 
of earth covered with heavy grass ; sound and healthy ; free from 
weeds ; at least 1 foot square and 2 inches thick ; cut with a bevel 
on the sides so that when laid they will lap at the edges. No poor, 
lean, or broken sod will be allowed in the work. 

Laying. The sod shall be carefully set so as to have a full 
bearing on their lower surfaces, and shall be properly rammed 
and well rolled, and wherever required by the Chief Engineer they 
shall be pinned down with wooden pins not less than 12 inches 
long. The surface of the top soil shall be dampened immediately 
before laying the sod. Care shall be taken to have all surfaces 
conform to the proper lines and grades, and any sliding or settling 
which may occur, before the final acceptance of the work, shall 
be repaired by the Contractor. 

Grass sodding, in place, shall be paid for at the price given in 
the proposal. 

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF 
ELEVATED TANKS AND STANDPIPES 

LOADS 

Definitions. (1) The dead load shall consist of the weight of 
structural and ornamental steelwork, platforms, roof construc- 
tion, piping, etc. 

(2) The live load considered shall be the contents of tanks, 
the movable load on platforms and roofs, and the wind pressure. 

(3) The weight of water shall be assumed to be 63 pounds 



126 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



per cubic foot; and that of crude oil 56 pounds per cubic foot, 
1 cubic foot of fluid being equal to 7.48 gallons. 

(4) The live loads on platforms and roofs shall be taken at 
30 pounds per square foot or a 200-pound concentrated load 
applied at any point. 

(5) The wind pressure shall be assumed at 30 pounds pei 
square foot, acting in any direction. The surfaces of cylindrical 
tanks exposed to the wind shall be calculated at two-thirds of the 
diameter multiplied by the height. 

(6) The movable live load on platforms and roofs shall not 
be considered as acting together with the wind pressure. 

UNIT STRAINS 

Sums of Dead and Live Loads. All parts of the structure 
shall be proportioned so that the sum of the dead and live loads 
shall not cause the strains to exceed those given in Table I. 

TABLE I 

Maximum Tension, Compression, and Shearing Stresses for 

Tanlcs and Standpipes 



Strains in Various Members 


Pounds per 
Square Inch 


Tension in tank plates (net area) 


12,000 


Tension in other parts of structure (net area) 


16,000 


Compression (reduced) 


16,000 


Shear on rivets and pins 


12,000 


Shear on bolts and field rivets 


9,000 


Shear in plates (gross section) 


10,000 


Bearing pressure on rivets and pins 


20,000 


Bearing pressure on field rivets 


18,000 


Fiber strain in pins 


24,000 



Compression Factor. For compression members, the permis- 
sible unit strain of 16,000 pounds shall be reduced by the formula 

I 

« = 16,000 — 70 — 

where p = permissible working strain in compression, in pounds 
per square inch 
Z = length of member, from center to center of connec- 
tions, in inches 
ri= least radius of gyration of section in inches 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



127 



The ratio — shall never exceed 120 for main members and 150 for 
r 

struts. 

Wind Stresses. Stresses due to wind may be neglected if they 
are less than 25 per cent of the combined dead and live loads. 

Unit strains in bracing and other members taking the wind 
stresses may be increased to 20,000 pounds per square inch, except 
as shown above. 

The pressures given in Table II will be permissible on founda- 
tion and bearing plates. 

TABLE II 

Maximum Allowable Pressures on Foundation and Bearing Plates 



Foundation Material 


Tons per Sq. Ft. 


Soft clay 

Ordinary clay 

Dry sand and dry clay 

Hard clay 

Gravel and coarse sand 


1 

2 
3 
4 
6 


Bearing Plates 


Lbs. per Sq. In. 


Brickwork with cement mortar 
Portland cement concrete 
First-class sandstone 
First-class limestone 
First-class granite 


200 
350 
400 
500 • 
600 



DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION 

Calking. The plates forming the sides of cylindrical tanks 
shall be of different diameters, and shall be calked from the 
inside. No foreign material shall be allowed when calking. 

In oil-tank work, both the inside and the outside of the tank 
shall be beveled for calking. 

Joints. Joints for horizontal seams and for radial seams in 
the spherical bottoms of tanks shall preferably be lap joints. 

For vertical seams lap joints shall be used for one-fourth-, five- 
sixteenths-, and three-eighths-inch plates ; for all other thicknesses, 
butt joints with double and triple rows of rivets on both sides of 
joint shall be used. 

Rivets. Rivets five-eighths inch in diameter shall be used for 
one-fourth- and five-sixteenths-inch plates ; rivets three-fourths inch 



128 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

in diameter for three-eigliths- to five-eigliths-inch plates, inclusive ; 
and rivets seven-eighths inch in diameter for eleven-sixteenths- to 
1-inch plates, inclusive. 

Plates. Plates more than five-eighths inch thick shall be sub- 
punched and reamed. 

The minimum thickness of the plates for the cylindrical part 
shall be one-fourth inch. The thickness of the plates in spherical 
bottoms shall never be less than that of the lower ring in the cylin- 
drical part of the tank. 

The facilities at the plant where the material is to be fabri- 
cated will be investigated before the material is ordered. 

All plates shall be punched before being bevel sheared for 
calking. 

Spherical Bottoms. Radial sections of spherical bottoms shall 
be made in duplicates of the number of columns supporting the 
tank, and shall be reinforced at the lower parts, where holes are 
made for piping. 

"When the center of the spherical bottom is above the point of 
connection with the cylindrical part of the tank, there shall be 
provided a girder at said point of connection to take the hori- 
zontal thrust. The horizontal girder may be made in connection 
with the balcony. This also applies where the tank is supported 
by inclined columns. 

The balcony around the tanks shall be 3 feet wade with a one- 
fourth-inch floor plate, and shall have a suitable railing 3 feet 6 
inches high. 

The upper parts of spherical bottom plates shall always be 
connected on the inside of the cylindrical section of the tank. 

Connections between Tower Columns and Tank. In order to 
avoid eccentric loading on the tower columns and local stresses in 
spherical bottoms, the connections between the columns and the 
sides of the tank shall be made in such a manner that the center 
of gravity of the column section intersects the center of connec- 
tion between the spherical bottom and the sides of the tank. 
Enough rivets shall be provided above this intersection to 
transmit the total column load. 

If the tanks are supported on columns, riveted directly to the 
sides, additional material must be provided in the tank plates 
riveted directly to the columns to take the shear. The shear may 
be taken by providing thicker tank plates or by reinforcement 
plates at the column connections. Connections to columns shall 
be made in such a manner that the efficiency of the tank plates is 
not less than that of the vertical seams. 

High Towers. For high towers, columns shall have a batter 
of 1 to 12. The height of the tower is understood to be the dis- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 129 

tance from the top of the masonry to the connection of the 
spherical bottom, or the flat bottom, with the cylindrical part of 
the tank. 

Standpipes. The bottom plates of standpipes shall be not 
less than five-sixteenths inch thick, and shall be provided with 
tapped holes, 1^ inches in diameter, with screw plugs spaced at 
4-foot centers to allow a filling of cement on top of the masonry, 
while the bottom is being erected, in order to secure the proper 
bearing. 

Near the bottom of the standpipe there shall be provided one 
12- by 18-inch manhole of elliptical shape. 

Near the top of each tank and standpipe there shall be pro- 
vided one Z-bar acting as a support for the painters' trolley and 
for the stiffening of the tank. The section modulus of the same 

shall be not less than where D is equal to the diameter of the 

tank, in feet. If the upper part of the tank is held by the roof 
construction, this may be reduced. 

Stiffening Angles on Large Tanks. On large tanks, circular 
stiffening angles shall be provided in order to prevent the tank 
plates from buckling during windstorms. The distance between 
the angles shall be located by the following formula : 






where d = approximate distance between angles, in feet 
t = thickness of tank plates, in inches 
i> = diameter of tank, in feet 

Roof Plates. The top of the tank will generally be covered 
with a conical roof of thin plates, and the pitch shall be 1 to 6. 
For tanks up to 22 feet in diameter, the roof plates will be 
assumed to be self-supporting. If the diameter of the tank 
exceeds 22 feet, angle rafters shall be used to support the roof 
plates. 

Plates of the following thicknesses will be assumed as self- 
supporting for various diameters: three-thirty-seconds-inch plate, 
up to a diameter of 18 feet ; one-eighth-inch plate, up to a diam- 
eter of 20 feet; three-sixteenths-inch plate, up to a diameter of 
22 feet. 

Rivets in the roof plates shall be from one-fourth to five-six- 
teenths inch in diameter and shall be driven cold. These rivets 
need not be headed with a button set. 

A trapdoor, 2 feet square, shall be provided in the roof plate. 



130 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Near the top of the higher tanks a platform with a railing shall 
be provided, for the safety of the men operating the trap- 
door. 

An ornamental finial shall be provided at the top of the 
roof. 

Ladder. A ladder 1 foot 3 inches wide shall be provided from 
a point about 8 feet above the foundation to the top of the tank, 
and also one shall be provided on the inside of the tank. Each 
ladder shall be made of two 2|- by f -inch bars with three-fourths- 
inch rungs. On large high tanks, 30 feet or more in diameter, a 
walk shall be provided from the column nearest the ladder to the 
expansion joint on the inlet pipe. 

Overrun. In designing tanks, 6 inches additional height shall 
be allowed for overrun. 

Bracing. The bracing in the towers shall not be adjust- 
able. 

Anchor Bolts. The size of the anchor bolts shall be deter- 
mined by the uplift when the tank or standpipe is empty. The 
unit strains in the anchor bolts shall not exceed 15,000 pounds 
per square inch, and the minimum section shall be limited to a 
diameter of IJ inches. 

Miscellaneous. The concrete shall be assumed to have a 
weight of 140 pounds per cubic foot and shall be sufficient in 
quantity to take the uplift. 

Any parts of the tank, standpipe, or tower, in which difficulties 
may arise in field riveting, shall be assembled in the shop, and 
marked properly before shipment. 

The structural material shall conform to the ** General Speci- 
fications for Steel Railroad Bridges'' as adopted by the American 
Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way' Association. 

The workmanship shall be in accordance with the Manu- 
facturers' Standard Specifications of Feb. 6, 1903. 

Before leaving the shop all work shall be painted with one 
coat of approved paint, excepting the laps in contact on the tank 
work. All parts which will be inaccessible after erection shall be 
well painted. After erection, the structure shall be covered with 
one coat of the same paint. 

Three-ply frost-proof casing shall be provided, if necessary, 
around the inlet pipe. This casing shall be composed of two 
layers of 1- by 2J-inch lumber, and each layer shall be covered with 
tar paper, and one outside layer of J- by 2J-inch dressed and 
matched flooring. The lumber shall be in lengths of about 12 feet. 
A 1-inch air space shall be provided between the layers of lumber, 
and wood rings or separators shall be nailed to them every 3 feet. 
The frost casing may be made square or cylindrical. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 131 

CONTRACT, OR ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT 

Nature and Purpose. A contract is an agreement between 
two or more parties to do a certain thing, such as delivering 
material, performing work, etc., and is based upon a mutual 
understanding between the parties to the agreement as to the 
nature of the work to be done, the kind of materials to be sup- 
plied, etc., and the amount of the consideration to be paid. 

Everything that will prevent misunderstanding as to the 
intention of the parties to the contract should be embodied in 
and foiTa a part of the contract. Hence, as already stated, the 
advertisement, the proposal, the drawings, the specifications, and 
the written articles of agreement should all form essential parts 
of the contract. There should be as many copies of the con- 
tract executed as there are parties to it, each party retaining a 
copy. 

Number of Parties to a Contract. It is claimed by some 
authorities that there can be but two parties to a contract. How- 
ever, we have many examples of agreements between corpora- 
tions, where there are as many parties to the contracts as there 
are interests. There are also contracts between financiers, pro- 
moters, engineers, and contractors often involving many parties. 

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS 

The four essential elements of all contracts, without which no 
contract is valid, are as follows : 

(1) Appropriate parties; or parties with capacity to con- 
tract. 

(2) Mutual consent to the terms of the agreement — a 
mutual understanding. 

(3) A definite subject — matter to be acted on. 

(4) A valid or lawful consideration, actual or presumed — 
a something in exchange for its legal equivalent. 

The Parties. To every contract there must be at least two 
parties, but there may be more than two. The parties may be 
either individuals, firms, or corporations and are designated in 
the agreement as the party of the first part and the party of the 



132 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

second part ; when there are other parties, which is unusual, they 
are designated as the party of the third part and the party of the 
fourth part. The party who has something to be done, or who is 
to pay the money, is generally designated as the party of the first 
part. The person or corporation who proposes to do the work 
for a consideration, or to sell something, is generally designated 
as the party of the second part, although there is no fixed rule in 
this matter. 

Appropriate Parties. Any person, firm, or corporation may be 
a competent party. There are exceptions to every rule. Generally 
corporations may contract only within the scope of their charter 
and by-laws by which they are usually limited. 

Generally speaking, any person of sound mind and legal age 
may make a contract. There are, however, exceptions differing 
in different localities. As an instance, married women are limited 
in their right to make contracts in certain States. But as their 
powers are being extended, a local attorney at law should be con- 
sulted in making contracts with them. 

A contract with a person of unsound mind is not binding upon 
the weaker person. 

Unsoundness of mind may be either temporary — as, from 
intoxication — or constitutional. "When, therefore, there is the 
slightest evidence of mental unfitness, no contract should be made, 
as litigation is thereby courted. It is needless to say that a con- 
tract should never be executed under threat. 

Corporations. In a contract, a corporation is considered as a 
single individual, regardless of the number of its members. It 
is of the greatest importance that it be known which officers of a 
company are authorized by its charter or by-laws to execute con- 
tracts. The president and the vice-president of a corporation are 
generally authorized to execute contracts for their company. The 
execution is usually witnessed by the officers' signatures and the 
seal of the company, attested by the secretary, the signatures 
generally being acknowledged before a notary public or a com- 
missioner of deeds. Important contracts shall also have the 
approval of the board of directors of the company. It is impor- 
tant that the limitation of the powers of the company's charter 
be known before the contract is drawn. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 133 

Full Description of Parties. The parties to a contract must be 
so fully described that there can be no mistake made as to their 
identity. A firm's full name and place of business, together with 
.the names of the individuals comprising it, should be given. An 
individual should be identified by his residence and occupation 
and a corporation by its full title, and the name of the State or 
Country wherein it was incorporated. 

Signatures to Agreement. It is necessary that the names of the 
parties used in the body of the agreement be exactly in accord 
with the signatures at the end thereof ; discrepancies in the names 
might invalidate the contract. 

United States Government a Party. The United States Gov- 
ernment cannot be sued for noncompliance with a contract, 
although it may bring suit against the other party to the con- 
tract — so a State may not be sued by an individual. A public 
official cannot be held personally liable for obligations made by 
him in his official capacity. 

Mutual Consent. A contract is not legal unless both parties 
thereto have agreed to the same thing. 

Hence an offer must be accepted before it becomes binding 
and until accepted may be withdrawn. It has been said that an 
offer by letter should be accepted by return mail; an offer by 
telegram, by return telegram, etc. All offers should be in writing 
to eliminate controversies; therefore they should be accepted or 
rejected promptly. 

If the party accepting impose any new conditions, they, in 
turn, must be agreed to by the other party, before a contract can 
be entered into. 

Subject Matter. The subject matter of a contract may be 
anything that is not immoral or illegal, and it must concern some 
act to be carried out. The subject matter must be described so 
fully and clearly that both parties will understand all conditions 
of the agreement, as a contract that is obscure or ambiguous 
leads to controversy and perhaps litigation. In case of dispute 
as to the meaning of the subject matter, custom and usage have 
great weight in the courts. 

Consideration. The consideration, or the price or reason of 
the promise, should be clearly and fully set forth in the agree- 



134 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

ment. The consideration makes the contract legal and must be 
real and substantial. 

ANALYSIS OF CONDITIONS 

Provide for all Conditions. It is of great importance that all 
probable and possible events in connection with the contract be 
foreseen and provided for in drawing the agreement. It requires 
great experience and ability to be able to foresee and provide for 
all conditions that may arise in the course of the work. It is, 
therefore, best for the Engineer to follow the standard form of 
some acknowledged authority until he becomes experienced in 
contract drawing, making such changes as are necessary to suit 
his conditions. 

Duties of Parties. Each contract must stand on its own basis ; 
that is to say, where the work to be done is legal; methods of 
doing it legal; the parties making it competent to act; and the 
agreement set forth in writing. The agreement so made becomes 
lawi between the parties. In ease of disputes the courts can 
only construe contracts, so as to determine what the intentions 
of the parties were ; hence the necessity of the contract specifi- 
cally setting forth the duties and obligations of the respective 
parties thereto. It must be remembered that though the Engineer 
draws the contract, the courts may be called upon to construe it. 

Guaranty. A guaranty in the form of a bond or certified 
check is generally required of bidders on public works. This is 
to reimburse the owner for the cost of re-advertisement and delay 
in case the successful bidder fails to execute the contract, and to 
compensate for loss or damages incident to delay in completion 
of the work, caused by the failure of the bidder. 

Bond. A surety bond, to enter into contract, should be re- 
quired of the Contractor on all contracts for public works, and 
on all other important contracts (the amount of such bond being 
set forth in the notice to bidders), for the faithful performance 
of the contract and prompt payment for labor and material, and 
as a protection to the Company against all damage to persons or 
property caused by negligence of the Contractor or his employes. 

In some contracts for public works,, one bond is required to 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 135 

cover the performance of the contract; another one to protect 
the material, men, and labor; and still others, covering other 
requirements due to local laws. There is no rule for the amount 
of the bond to be given by the Contractor. Bonds must generaJly 
be sued upon in order to recover, throwing the burden of proof 
upon the Company. 

Payment Clauses. In the payment clauses in the contract, 
under various conditions, the Engineer is authorized to withhold 
payment until the objectionable conditions are removed by the 
Contractor. It is, therefore, sometimes considered that a 'Svith- 
held payment" is one of the best means of securing the desired 
end — the old story of ''touching a man's pocketbook" to gain 
results. The withheld payment throws the burden of proof on 
the Contractor, in case of dispute ; is simple and direct, and, there- 
fore, easy of application. It has been said with truth that "the 
guaranty of good work is intelligent and faithful inspection, with- 
held payments, and the Contractor's bond." 

Arbitrators. The employment of the arbitration clause is not 
to be recommended, as in case of controversies it is rare that the 
parties to the contract will abide by the conditions of the arbitra- 
tion clause, generally preferring to throw the dispute into the 
courts, rather than trust their interests to the unknown qualifica- 
tions of arbitrators. 

They may decline even to appoint arbitrators. If, however, 
each party appoints an arbitrator to act in the matters of con- 
troversy and executes an instrument agreeing to abide by the 
decision of the arbitrators chosen, according to the terms of the 
contract, they are irrevocably bound by the findings of the board. 
The following clause has been used by the writer in a few cases : 

Arhitraiion. In the case of any difference or dispute arising 
between the Company and the Contractor, during the execution 
of the work, other than the meaning of the specifications and 
drawings, which shall be interpreted by the Engineer, the same 
shall be referred to 3 disinterested arbitrators, one to be appointed 
by each of the parties to this contract and the third by the two thus 
chosen, the decision of any 2 of whom shall be final and binding 
on the parties thereto; and cost and expenses of said arbitration, 
including reasonable witness fees, shall be imposed upon either 
of the parties hereto, or divided between said parties in an equi- 



136 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

table manner b.y the arbitrators, and shall be paid by said party 
or parties in accordance with the arbitrators' decisions. 

Manufactured Products. In contracts involving the supply of 
manufactured materials such as structural steel or building 
materials, when the party supplying same is subject to strikes, 
floods, etc., a clause such as the following is often inserted in the 
contract to limit the liability of the Contractor, and is considered 
equitable. 

StrikeSy Floods, etc. The times herein mentioned for comple- 
tion of the work are subject to delays due to transportation, 
strikes, fires, floods, storms, or other causes beyond the Con- 
tractor's control. Should the w^ork be delayed by any of the 
foregoing causes, the Contractor shall have additional time, not 
less than the extent and sum of said delays, in which to complete 
his work under this contract. This extension of time shall be 
commensurate with the specified excusing cause or causes. 

Note. — ^Loeal Laws. The local lien and labor laws should be most care- 
fully looked into before the drawing of a contract. They are different in dif- 
ferent States. Some prescribe the hours of labor and amount of pay for 
workmen; others provide that the person furnishing the materials of construc- 
tion and the laborers shall have a preferred claim to that of the Contractor; 
still others require that the contract be filed with some ofl&cial, to prevent seri- 
ous and expensive legal disputes among the owner, contractor, material men, 
sub-contractors, laborers, etc. Too much importance cannot be given to the 
drawing and filing of contracts where the local lien and labor laws are in 
force. Local customs and usages, in the matter of measuring plaster, brick 
work, masonry of different kinds, etc., must be provided against in the 
contract. 

FORMS OF AGREEMENT 

In preparing a form of agreement, it is well to have a list of 
the various essentials to a well-drawn civil engineering contract 
before the writer, in order to avoid the omission of important 
clauses. The following provisions should be included in the 
agreement : 

Opening Clause. A correct form for the opening clause. 
There are many forms that are correct and it is not material 
which is used. To make the form more readily understood, names 
and dates in the examples given below have been filled in. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 137 

THIS AGREEMENT, Made and Entered Into this ^.^R^J^. 

day of !^.'^?r.V.. , in the year of our Lord 191...!^. , by 

and between Green Mountain Railroad Company, a corporation 
created by and existing under the laws of the State of 
New Jersey, and having its principal office at 509 South 
Broad Street, in the City of Newark, 

in said State, hereinafter called ''Company", party of the first 
part- and Smith, Jones, and Company, of the City of 
Chicago, State of Illinois, a firm composed of John G. 
Smith, James S. Jones, and William F. Brown, having its 
principal place of business at 14 South Front Street, in 
the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, 

party of the second part, hereinafter called the ''Contractor", 
Witnesseth : — 

or 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT, Made and Concluded this 

^.^.^^^. day of ^.^^y , A. D. 191. A , by and 

between Brooklyn Terminal Company, a corporation created 
by and existing under the laws of the State of New York, 
and having its principal office at 18 South Water Street, 
in the Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York, in the said 
State, hereinafter called "Company", 

party of the first part; and..-..'J^.?®s..---P°i-a.^-!.--?-9.^.^ 

residing at 710 Burns Avenue, in the City of Boston, State 

of Massachusetts, 

party of the second part, hereinafter called the "Contractor", 
Witnesseth : — 

Parties. It is advisable to designate the parties to the con- 
tract for the sake of brevity by one word as : Company, Engineer, 
Contractor, Agent, Trustee, Owner, Purchaser, Incorporator, Board, 
City, etc., as the case may be. 

Arrangement of Clauses. Following the opening clauses 
should come the specific covenants and agreements of the respec- 
tive parties to the contract, which should be set forth as clearly 
and unequivocally as possible. 

Plans and Specifications. Where the plans and specifications 



138 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

are properly drawn they should, of course, show the quantity 
and quality, and, as far as possible, the amount of work to be 
done, material to be furnished, and the time and method of mak- 
ing payments ; also the time of beginning and of completing the 
work, and other details of the operation; hence the articles of 
agreement must specifically state that the work and labor to be 
done, and materials to be furnished and delivered, must be in 
strict and exact accordance with the proposal, plans, and speci- 
fications attached to the Articles of Agreement which are made 
a part of the contract. 

Materials, Workmanship, and Damages. Usually the Articles 
of Agreement should also stat.e that the materials and workman- 
ship are to be the best of their kinds, and should provide for 
the proper inspection thereof; for their approval or rejection; for 
the replacing of defective material or workmanship ; for a time 
within which the work should be performed; and for a specific 
stipulation that upon failure of the Contractor to complete the 
work within the time specified, a fixed sum shall be deducted from 
the contract price for each and every day that the work remains 
incomplete, as ascertained and liquidated damages and not as a 
penalty. 

In fixing the amount of liquidated damages for each day's 
delay, due consideration should be given to the actual loss to the 
Company for such delay, as courts are inclined to look with dis- 
favor upon anything in the nature of a penalty. 

Prosecution of Work. The Articles of Agreement should also 
contain a covenant for due prosecution of the work, and should 
provide means and methods by which the Company may proceed 
to furnish the materials or complete the work upon the failure or 
neglect of the Contractor to comply with the terms of the 
contract. 

Surety. It should also provide for the entry of security for the 
proper performance of the contract by bond or otherwise. Per- 
sonal bonds should be avoided whenever possible, and good surety 
company security accepted instead. The bond is a very important 
factor in the contract and the clause should be very carefully 
drawn and in such a manner (if it is possible) that the necessary 
changes in plans and specifications may be made without vitiating 
the bond. It is of the greatest importance that before any 
changes or alterations are made, the person or surety company 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 139 

on the Contractor's bond be notified of the Engineer's intention, 
and their consent obtained before proceeding with the work. 

Protective Clause. It should further provide for proper pro- 
tection of the work and precautions against accidents and an 
assumption of liability by the Contractor of all damages to per- 
sons or property resulting from the prosecution of the work. 
Provision should be made against assigning, transferring, or 
subletting the contract; and should specify that it is subject to 
all local laws regulating the employment of workmen and the 
protection of material men and sub-contractors ; and for the pro- 
tection of the Company the contract should contain an appropriate 
clause drawn in accord with the local laws waiving the right of 
the Contractor, material men, laborers, or sub-contractors to file 
liens. This last covenant should be drawn by a local attorney ; in 
most instances the contract should be filed in accordance with 
the law of the place where the work is to be done. 

Contract Price. The Agreement should also contain the 
amount to be paid and method of payment. 

Special Clauses. The Articles of Agreement may properly 
contain special clauses providing for the handling of different 
contingencies that may arise in the performance of the work; 
and it is the duty of the Engineer to foresee all possible complica- 
tions that may arise, and to provide means of protecting the 
parties in case of such complications. 

The specifications usually provide for extra work, alterations 
in plans and specifications, and settling of disputes ; in which case, 
special reference to the plans and specifications, etc., renders it 
unnecessary to refer again to them in the Agreement ; but if the 
specifications do not so provide, special clauses should be inserted 
in the agreement. 

Date. The contract may be dated in either the 'beginning, or 
the closing clauses, or both. It is not well to write out the date 
in full in both clauses. 

Seals. As already stated, when corporations are parties to 
contracts the corporate seal should be attached. When indi- 
viduals are parties to contracts a scroll around the word ''seal" 
written with ink is generally considered sufficient. The initials of 
the signer should be written across the "seal". 



140 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Witness. A notary public is the best witness to a contract, 
as it is easy to locate him and prove his authority in case of doubt 
as to the authenticity of the signature. 

Conclusion. The usual wording for the conclusion of the 
agreement is: 



In AViTXESS Whereof, the -parties herein named have here- 
unto set their hands and seals, the day and year herein first 
above named. A a 

By..S\AW 

(Party of the first part) 






President 



Attest : [seal] 





Secretary 



Witnesses : 



Q::hL£i<^^ 




[seal] 
[seal] 

te?<?^^r€V.Z|^2^^ [SE.VLJ 

*arty of the second part) 
Contractor 

TYPICAL AGREEMENTS 

The following forms of agreement will be of service to the 
student. The order in which the clauses are arranged is not vital, 
and none of the forms contain all of the suggested clauses, so the 
Engineer in drawing the agreement must be governed by the con- 
ditions surrounding the work and the parties. 

General Form 

THIS AGREEMENT, Made this ?:5.eniy:.second ^^y 

of ^.f.Pl:®?!?®?^ in the year of our Lord one thousand nine 

hundred and \^?.. (191..P ), between the P.^iP. 

Railroad Company, a corporation of the State of Ohio, 

hereinafter called the party of the first part, and -.?.™^-?:--K™. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 141 

0* Conner, Contractor, residing at 128 Washington Avenue, 
City of Wilmington, State of Delaware, 

hereinafter called the part..y of the second part, 

WITNESSETH, That the said part ...^ of the second part, for and 

in consideration of the payments hereinafter specified and agreed 
to be made to 1^.1..5.9.^1r..^5l?.?. by the said party of the 

first part, hereby covenant...?.'.....contract....?.». and agree...?.? to 

furnish and deliver all the materials, and to do and peri'orm all 
the v^ork and labor required to be furnished and delivered, done 
and performed in ....^^^-'■^^^S Section No. Ill of the Imton 
Extension of the Ohio Railroad from Greenburg to Graytown, 

all in the State of Ohio, including grading, masonry, build- 
ings, track, and signals, complete and ready for opera- 
tion, all 

in strict and exact accordance with the proposal and specifica- 
tions hereto attached, w^hich said proposal and specifications are 
hereby made a part of this agreement as fully to all intents and 
purposes as though herein set out at length. 

The said part-^ of the second part further contract...? 

and agree-.? that all of the materials used in the said work 

shall be of the best of their several kinds and qualities, and that 
all of the said materials and work shall be subject to the inspec- 
tion and approval of the .^.^.i??. .Engineer „of.. Ohio 

.?.9.?P?'?.y and in case any of the said materials 

or work shall be rejected by the said ?.?^i9?_.._?^.?.i?®9T. 

as defective or unsuitable, then the said materials shall be re- 
placed with other materials, and the said work shall be done 
anew immediately, to the satisfaction and approval of the said 

.?.^.^.®.?...?.^.?.^.l^.?..f.r. at the cost and expense of the said 

part.-Z of the second part. 

It is further distinctly understood and agreed that the said 

work shall be completed on or before the Y}-I.^.^...^^Y...9^. 

January, nineteen hundred and twelve (1912) ^^^^j ^f ^^^ said 

work be not completed within the time specified, it is understood 

and agreed that the sum o£ O?.?...^^?.??!?^ Dollars 

($ i??. ) per day shall be deducted from the amount 

due the said part..y. of the second part for each and every day 

the said work shall remain incomplete or unfinished after the 
said time, not as a penalty, but as ascertained and liquidated 



112 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

damages; which sum so deducted shall remain the property of 
the said party of the first part. Or shall the said part... ^. of the 

second part in the opinion of the said. 9^.}.f.f...3}}:^H}.f.9S. 

be prosecuting the said work with an insufficient stock of mate- 
rials for the prompt completion thereof within the specified time, 

or be improperly performing the said work, or shall ^^.f. 

.?°P.?rr.?^.9.1°r neglect or abandon it before com- 
pletion or unreasonably delay the same, so that the conditions 
of the contract are being wilfully violated or carelessly executed, 

or in bad faith, or shall ^^.^....9.9J?.^F3.9.^.9.L neglect or refuse 

to renew or again perform such work as may be rejected by the 

said .?.??.^.®?..??S^P®.f.? as defective or unsuitable, or shall 

^^9....9.9J}...L^9.^PT.. in any other manner in the opinion of 

the said 9^.?:9f...3l^3?:^99F. make default in the peiform- 

ance of this contract, then and in any such case the said--?M.f.? 

??.?.f.?®.f.r. shall promptly notify the said part.^.. 

of the second part in writing of such neglect or default. If 
such notification be without effect within twenty-four hours after 

the delivery thereof, then and in that case the said .?!}A®?. 

.?.M?:?®.f.f. may notify the said part...y of the 

second part to discontinue all work under this contract ; and the 

said ^.^.^^.C.^PSA^.fsr. shall thereupon have full authority 

and power immediately to purchase such materials, tools, and 

machinery, and to employ such workmen as in .".^.^. 

opinion shall be required for the proper completion of the said 

work at the cost and expense of the said part.y. of the second 

part or ^^.^. surety, or both; or the said .?!^A®? 

?}^^}_^99F. Miay, without notice, declare this con- 
tract null and void, and the security bond and the retained per- 
centage and the material delivered and used in, on, or about 
the said work shall then become the property of the said 
Railroad Company. 

The said part-.y. of the second part further contract...?. and 

agree ..? to properly enclose the said work, and to place signal 

lights thereon all night, when and where necessary, and to be 
responsible for and pay all loss or damage to either person or 
property which may, in any manner, arise by reason of the prose- 
cution of the said work, during the progress of the same, and in 
case of the happening of such loss or damage the amount thereof 
may be retained by the said party of the first part out of any 
payments due or to grow due hereunder. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



143 



The said part...^ of the second part agree...? not to assign, 

transfer, nor sublet this contract. 

It is further understood and agreed that this contract is en- 
tered into under and subject to the provisions of the various local 
laws in regard to Sub-Contractors, Security, and Workmen. 

In consideration of the premises, the said party of the first 

part agrees to pay to the said part-.^ of the second part 

Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars (S250,000.). 

It is further distinctly understood and agreed that the total 
amount to be expended for the materials to be furnished and 
work to be done under this contract shall in no event exceed the 
sum of '^^^ hundred and seventy- five thousand (S275,000.) 

dollars. 




PAETIES EEBEIN NAMED HAVE HEIIEUNTO SET THEIR 
BANDS AND SEALS, THE DAY AND YEAE HEREIN FIRST 
ABOVE NAMED, 

Attest: OHIO RAILROAD COMPANY, 

[corporate ^al] By .SL^-:^^^ 

^ President 

Secretary - [seal] 

"Witnessed by [seilI 

.CMl2.S&:a^_, |.^^^^^ 

Contractor 
Railway Form 

As already stated, there is a great difference of opinion as 
to whether certain clauses be placed in the agreement or the 
specification. 

There are many conditions affecting contracts that an engi- 
neer generally does not appreciate. It is advisable, therefore, to 
submit the contract and bond before execution to an attorney, 
for advice as to whether all the requirements of the law have 
been complied with. 

The following form of agreement is that used by one of the 



144 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

great trunk lines of the country, for their contracts for Grading, 
Masonry, Trestlework, Tunnels, etc. 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT, Made and concluded this 

_ :^wenty-f irst ^^^ ^f Jun^ ^ j) ^^g;, 4 , 

by and between ^^st Line Railroad Company, a corporation 
of the State of New Jersey, 

of the first part, and ?.e.lJ^.a".c.e..5°^.''^-Lacting.Co^^^^ 

corporation 

„£ ^Y^Q State of New Jersey, 

second part. 

WITNESSETH, that for and in consideration of the covenants 
and payments hereinafter mentioned to be made and performed 

by the said party of the first part, the said P.?:!^."!'^. of the 

second part hereby covenant...? and agree...?. subject to the 

aj^proval and to the satisfaction and acceptance of the Chief 

Engineer of the said rail .^.°.^.^ Company .^..o...!^.^..y.?i...:the _ 

substructure of the Green River Bridge ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^q finish in 
a substantial and workmanlike manner, and in strict conformity 
v/ith the annexed specifications, hereby adopted, accepted, and 
declared by the parties hereunto to be an essential part of this 

agreement, the entire work of .^.^.i..lAi^g...co.^.tei;dams , .ex 

vatin^ same to hard rock bottom, and building all the piers 

and abutments of the Green River Bridge 

And it is mutually agreed between the said parties of the first 
and second parts, that 

1. Right of Way. The right of way and use of such lands as 
may be necessary to enable the said party of the second part to 
conform to the requirements of the specifications here attached 
shall be furnished for the construction of the said raihvay by the 
said party of the first part, so that the work herein contracted 
for can be promptly commenced and prosecuted to completion. 

2. Work Executed under Direction of Chief Engineer. The 
work shall be executed under the supervision and direction of 
the Chief Engineer of the party of the first part (hereinafter 
called the Chief Engineer, being either the regular incumbent of 
the office of Chief Engineer, or the person who, from time to 
time, may be designated by the party of the first part to be 
Acting Chief Engineer). Such Chief Engineer shall possess and 
exercise all the power hereinafter prescribed, and shall designate 
the portions of the line upon which work shall be begun and per- 
formed, and shall, at all proper times, furnish plans, measure- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 145 

ments, stakes, and directions for doing the work, it being dis- 
tinctly understood that any action herein contemplated as to be 
taken by the Chief Engineer may be taken and performed, sub- 
ject to his ultimate approval and adoption, by his subordinates, 
and when so taken and performed shall, upon such approval and 
adoption (but not otherwise), be in all respects taken, treated, 
and considered as the sole and original action of the Chief Engi- 
neer. Oral instructions in regard to any work to be performed 
under this agreement, if accepted by the said party of the second 
part, shall be accepted at his own risk, and no instructions so 
given shall relieve the said party of the second part from liability 
to damages or expenses arising from the performance of the work 
in accordance with such instructions, or in any other way than 
in accordance with this agreement, and the said party of the 
first part hereby reserves to itself the right to accept or reject 
any or all work done in accordance with such instructions. 

3. Tools, Materials, Mechanics, Laborers at Contractor's Ex- 
pense. The said party of the second part shall, at his own expense, 
cost, and charge, find and provide a full and ample supply of the 
best and most suitable tools and appliances required to be used 
in the performance of said work, and provide the best of mate- 
rial of every kind that may be needed for the thorough and expe- 
ditious execution of said work, and shall furnish and provide in 
sufficient numbers all mechanics, laborers, and other workmen, 
and also all things that may be necessary and requisite for con- 
structing and completing, within the time herein stipulated, the 
whole of the work herein agreed to be done. 

4. Time of Commencement and Completion. The work herein 

contracted for shall be commenced within .r.^.^r..^y days 

after the date of this agreement, and shall be completed on or 

before .^H^Z..!?.^. 191....? This stipulation being 

made with the full knowledge, understanding, and agreement by 
the party of the second part that the time of commencement, dis- 
continuance, suspension, resumption, and rate of progress of any 
and all work contemplated in or by this contract, shall be subject 
and according to such directions as may, from time to time, be 
given by the Chief Engineer, and that, unless expressly so de- 
clared in writing by the Chief Engineer, the date of final com- 
pletion shall not be postponed by reason of any such direction, or 
any compliance therewith ; and no right of the party of the first 
part under any clause of this contract, nor any obligation or 
liability of any contractor, surety, or bondsman shall be waived, 
lost, or impaired by any extension of the time for performance 
beyond the date above fixed for completion, but every clause of 



146 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



the contract or bond shall apply in respect of the time as extended 
by the written declaration of the Chief Engineer, 

5. Prices. For and in consideration of the true and faithful 
performance of the work by the said party of the second part, 
according to the agreements and conditions contained in this 
agreement, and the specifications hereto attached, the said party 
of the first part hereby promises and agrees to pay, in the 
manner, at the times, and under the conditions hereinafter pro- 
vided, to the said party of the second part, his executors or admin- 
istrators, for the work done and materials furnished as aforesaid, 
at the following rates and prices, to wit : 



For clearing, per acre 

For grubbing, per acre 

GENERAL EXCAVATION AND EMBANKMENT 

For solid rock, per cubic yard 

For loose rock, per cubic yard 

For earth, per cubic yard 

For borrowed embankment, per cubic yard. . . . , . 
For excavation without classification, per cubic 

yard 

For removing old masonry, per cubic yard 

EXCAVATION IN WATER 

For solid rock, per cubic yard 

For loose rock, per cubic yard 

For earth, per cubic yard 

For excavation without classification, per cubic 
yard 

TUNNEL EXCAVATION 

For single track tunnels, per cubic yard 

For double track tunnels, per cubic yard 

For shafts, per cubic yard 

BALLAST 

For broken stone, per cubic yard, in place under 
track well surfaced 

For gravel, per cubic yard, in place under track 
well surfaced 

For slag, per cubic yard, in place under track 
well surfaced 



Dollars 


Cents 


50 


00 


250 


00 





85 





60 





30 





25 





38 


1 


50 


2 


80 


2 


00 


1 


00 


2 


50 


4 


00 


3 


75 


6 


00 


1 


20 


1 


05 


1 


15 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



147 



MASONKY 

For 1st class, per cubic yard 

For 2d. class, per cubic yard 

For 3d class, or rubble, and box culverts, in 
cement, per cubic yard 

For 3d class, or rubble, and box culverts, dry, per 
cubic yard 

For arch masonry, 1st class, per cubic yard 

For arch masonry, 2d class, in cement, per cubic 
yard 

For arch masonry, 2d class, dry, per cubic yard. . 

For slope walls, per cubic yard 

For stone paving, in cement, per cubic yard 

For stone paving, dry, per cubic yard 

For concrete No. 1, per cubic yard 

For concrete No. 1, per cubic yard, J-in. stone, per 
cubic yard 

For concrete No. 2, per cubic yard 

For brick work, per cubic yard 

For packing in cement, per cubic yard (in tun- 
nel) 

For packing, dry, per cubic yard (in tunnel) .... 

For packing, dry, per cubic yard (back of abut- 
ments and retaining walls) * 

For rip-rap, per cubic yard 

MACADAM AND TELFOED EOADWAY 



For Macadam paving, per square yard, 
For Telford paving, per square yard . . , 



For 4- 
For 6- 
For 8- 
For 10- 
For 12- 
For 16- 
For 20- 
For 24 
For 30 
For 36 
For 48- 
For 60 



lEON DEAIN PIPE 

inch, per lineal foot in place 
inch, per lineal foot 
inch, per lineal foot 
inch, per lineal foot 
inch, per lineal foot 
inch, per lineal foot 
inch, per lineal foot 
■inch, per lineal foot 
inch, per lineal foot 
■inch, per lineal foot 
■inch, per lineal foot 
-inch, per lineal foot 



Dollars 


Cents 


10 


00 


8 


00 


6 


00 


3 


50 


12 


00 


10 


25 


2 


75 


2 


75 


3 


50 


3 


00 


8 


50 


8 


65 


7 


75 


12 


00 


6 


00 


4 


25 


2 


75 


1 


95 





85 





93 





55 





80 





95 


1 


10 


1 


25 


1 


95 


2 


55 


3 


25 


4 


95 


6 


80 


11 


30 


16 


85 



148 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



TERRA COTTA DRAIN PIPE 



Dollars 



For 4- 
For 6- 
For 8- 
For 10- 
For 12- 
For 15- 
For 18- 
For 20- 
For 24- 
For 27- 
For 30- 
For 36- 



inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 
inch, 



per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 
per lineal 



foot in 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 

foot 



place 



FOUNDATION TIMBER 



For White Oak, per 1000 feet B. M. in place. . 
For Yellow Pine, per 1000 feet B. M. " . . . 
For Hemlock, per 1000 feet B. M '* 



TRESTLE TIMBER 



For "White Oak, per 1000 feet B. M. in place 

For Yellow Pine, per 1000 feet B. M. '' .... 
For Hemlock, per 1000 feet B. M. '' 

TUNNEL TIMBER 

For White Oak, per 1000 feet B. M. in place 

For Yellow Pine, per 1000 feet B. M. '' 

For Hemlock, per 1000 feet B. M. 

PILING 

For White Oak, per lineal foot left in the work . . 
For Hemlock, per lineal foot * * ' ' 

For Yellow Pine, per lineal foot ** ** 

TRACK LAYING 

For track laying and lining, including unloading 
of track materials, spacing of ties, and plac- 
ing in position of switches and frogs, complete, 
per mile single track 

STEEL AND IRON WORK 

For wrought iron, per pound in place, spikes, bolts, 
etc 

For steel, per pound in place, metal for reinforcing 
concrete 

For cast iron, per pound in place 





1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
3 
4 
6 



51 
53 
52 



Cents 



40 
70 
00 
12 
29 
56 
82 
10 
67 
77 
45 
10 



00 
00 
00 



60 


00 


55 


00 


53 


00 


49 


00 


45 


00 


43 


50 





48 





32 





36 


860 


00 





04 





04 





03 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 149 

6. Payment. During the progress of the work, so long as 
the party of the second part shall fully comply with the terms of 
the agreement, the party of the first part shall, upon or about 
the 15th day of each calendar month, and at such place as may 
from time to time be designated by the Chief Engineer, make to 
the party of the second part an advance payment for and on 
account of the work done and material furnished during the 
preceding calendar month ; quantity, character, and value of such 
work and material to be estimated and certified by the Chief 
Engineer or by his subordinates, with his written approval ; such 
advance payment not to exceed ninety per cent of the value as 
thus estimated and certified. Such certificate may be based on 
either actual measurements or simple estimate, or both com- 
bined, as shall be approved by the Chief Engineer and, except as 
otherwise determined by the Chief Engineer, no amount so esti- 
mated and certified, nor any amount shall in any wise be deemed 
payable, nor shall the same in any manner be transferable or 
assignable either by the act of the party of the second part or by 
the operation of law as a subsisting debt or liability of the party 
of the first part, until the final estimate shall have been made 
and become payable as hereinafter provided, nor (except at the 
option of the party of the first part) until all amounts payable 
to laborers, sub-contractors, or material men shall have been fully 
paid, or the payment thereof secured to the satisfaction of the 
Chief Engineer. The portion of each amount so certified (being 
not less than a sum equal to ten per cent thereof) reserved by the 
party of the first part shall be by it retained forever as com- 
pensation for or on account of any damages which may be certi- 
fied by the Chief Engineer to have been by it sustained from 
any failure of the party of the second part to perform this contract, 
and the work thereunder, as herein provided; but any part 
thereof not required as such compensation shall be payable and 
paid to the same persons at the same time and upon the same 
conditions as the final payment under this contract, hereinafter 
provided for. And it is further provided that, at the discretion 
of the Chief Engineer, a larger proportionate part than ten per 
cent of each monthly certificate may be retained by the party 
of the first part as a protection against overpayment for work 
done, as compared with that remaining to be done; and at all 
times it shall be wholly discretionary with the party of the first 
part to make any payments on account of material delivered, and 
not permanently applied to the work for which it may have been 
intended. 

Each monthly estimate, unless it be specifically decided and 
therein declared in Avriting to the contrary by the Chief Engineer, 



150 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

shall cover and certify the quantity, character, and value of all 
work done or material furnished since the last preceding esti- 
mate, which shall by the Chief Engineer be considered as extra 
work, and the acceptance by the party of the second part of the 
amount, payable under any monthly estimate, shall be deemed 
and taken (except as to that part of the price thereof being not 
less than ten per cent reserved and retained by the party of the 
first part as compensation as aforesaid) as a waiver by him 
of any and all claim for or on account of extra work up to that 
time, and each monthly estimate or certificate of the Chief Engi- 
neer shall, unless expressly therein provided to the contrary, be 
final and conclusive as to any and all extra work rendered or 
claimed to have been rendered at any time prior to the close of 
the month for which such estimate or certificate shall be given. 

7. Monthly Estimates Conclusive Only for the Time Being, and 
Subject to Variation. Every monthly estimate shall, for the time 
being be conclusive upon both parties hereto, but being made 
(except as above provided as to extra work) merely as a basis 
for payment on account, though with a great desire and effort 
for accuracy, may be only approximately correct, and therefore 
shall (except as above provided as to extra work) be subject to 
correction by the Chief Engineer in any subsequent monthly 
estimate, or in any final estimate ; and no such monthly estimate 
or certificate for unfinished work shall be considered or taken as 
an acceptance of the work, or as a release of the said party of 
the second part from responsibility therefor, nor as controlling the 
Chief Engineer in the final certificate, which alone shall operate 
as an acceptance of the work or as a release of the party of the 
second part. 

8. Final Estimates and Payments. When this agreement in 
all its parts and in the manner therein provided shall have been 
completely performed on the part of the said party of the second 
part, and such performance shall have been accepted and so cer- 
tified in writing b}^ the said Chief Engineer, a final estimate of 
the quantity, character, and value of the work done and materials 
furnished, according to the terms of this agreement, shall be made 
by the Chief Engineer, and thereupon and not otherwise or 
sooner, except at its own election, the said party of the first 
part shall within 90 days thereafter, pay to the said Contractor, 
upon his giving a release under seal to the said party of 
the first part from all workmen and material men, of all claims 
or demands whatsoever growing in any manner out of this 
agreement, all sums of money so certified by the Chief Engi- 
neer to be then remaining due and unpaid upon the work per- 
formed under this agreement, after first deducting therefrom 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 151 

any and all sums herein provided to be retained by the said party 
of the first part, it being expressly understood that such final 
estimate and certificate of the Chief Engineer shall be conclusive 
upon the parties to this contract. 

And it is further distinctly understood and agreed : 

1. Must Obtain Consent to Sublet. The said party of the sec- 
ond part shall not assign or sublet the whole, or any part of this 
agreement (for any work to be done thereunder) without first 
having obtained the consent, in writing, of the said part of the 
first part thereto. 

2. If at any time during the progress of the work it shall 
appear to the Chief Engineer (a) that the work does not progress 
with reasonable speed; or (b) that the force employed, the quan- 
tity or quality of the tools, appliances, or workmen provided, or 
w^ork done or materials furnished are not respectively such as to 
insure the completion of the work within the agreed time, or 
are not in accordance wdth the specifications hereto annexed; or 
(c) that the party of the second part has unreasonably failed to 
pay laborers and w^orkmen or overseers for work performed under 
this agreement; or (el) that legal proceedings have been instituted 
by parties other than the party of the first part, against the 
party of the second part in such manner as to interfere with the 
prosecution of the work, or to subject the party of the first part 
in making further payments under this contract to the peril of 
litigation or outside claims ; or (e) that the party of the second part 
is failing in any manner of substance to observe and perform 
this contract; then, and in any of such events, such fact or con- 
dition may be fully ascertained and declared by the Chief Engi- 
neer, over his signature, in a w^riting to be filed w4th the party 
of the first part, and a copy thereof shall be served upon the 
party of the second part, either in person or by mailing the same 
to him at the address by him last given to the party of the first 
part, or by posting the same on the door of his office on or near 
the w^ork, and at any time after the service as aforesaid of such 
certificate of the Chief Engineer may take any of the following 
courses : 

(a) Penalty. The Chief Engineer may, by a writing simi- 
larly served (of which a copy shall be filed with the party of 
the first part), declare this contract terminated and annulled, 
and from the time of such service this agreement, and every part 
thereof, shall cease and terminate, and shall, as to all further 
action or right thereunder (including any right of the party of 
the second part, or any one claiming under him, to receive the 
unpaid value of any w^ork done), become null and void, except 
that all sums theretofore reserved by the party of the first part 



152 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

shall belong to and be retained by the party of the first part 
as liquidated compensation receivable by the party of the first 
part for the damages not susceptible of exact ascertainment 
caused the party of the first part by such failure of the party of 
the second part ; or, 

(b) Penalty. The Chief Engineer may, by a writing simi- 
larly served (of which a copy shall be filed with the party of 
the first part), declare that the party of the second part has 
grossly violated this contract, and that the contract is, therefore, 
forfeited and the party of the second part in gross default, in which 
event the party of the second part shall have no further right under 
this contract, or concerning any work theretofore . done there- 
under, but, nevertheless, he and his sureties shall compensate the 

|-| party of the first part for aiiv and all loss or damages which 

may, from time to time, be certified by the Chief Engineer to have 
in any wise resulted from such gross violation, ascertained as 
aforesaid; or, 

(c) Penalty. The Chief Engineer may by a writing simi- 
larly served (of which a copy shall be filed with the party of 
the first part), require the party of the second part to at once 
supply such increase of force, appliances, or tools, and to cause 
to be made such improvements in the character of the w^ork and 
material as may be required in the opinion of the Chief Engineer, 
to make the same conform to the stipulations of this agreement 
and the specifications ; and if, on the expiration of ten days after 

1 1 such service of such writing, the party of the second part shall have 

failed to furnish to the party of the first part evidence satis- 
factory to the Chief Engineer of the intention and ability of the 
i party of the second part to furnish the desired improvements 

I and remedy the specified deficiencies, the said party of the first 

part may thereupon enter on and take possession of the said 
work, or any part thereof, with the tools, materials, plants, appli- 
ances, houses, machinery, and other appurtenances thereon, and 
hold the same as security for any or all damages or liabilities 
that may arise by reason of the non-fulfillment of this agreement 
within the time herein stipulated ; and, furthermore, may employ 
the said tools, materials, etc., as aforesaid, and such other means 
as the said party of the first part may deem proper to completi^ 
the work at the expense of the said party of the second part, and 
may deduct the .cost of completing the entire work from any pay- 
ments then due or thereafter falling due, to the said party of 
the second part, and recover from him and his sureties any and all 
deficiency. 

And immediately upon, from, and after the service, as afore- 
said, of any of the three writings last mentioned, all right of 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 153 

occupancy in or upon any lands or property of the party of the 
first part; and all rights of the party of the second part, or of 
any person claiming under or through him any further prosecu- 
tion of or interest in the work shall cease and determine, and the 
party of the first part may take possession of such lands or 
property and complete the work thereon in such manner and by 
such means as it may think best. 

And it is further agreed and understood that if, at any time, 
the party of the second part shall refuse or neglect to prosecute the 
work with a force sufficient, in the judgment of the Chief Engi- 
neer, for its completion within the time specified, then, and in 
that case, the party of the '£rst part may proceed to employ 
such a number of workmen, laborers, and overseers as, in the 
opinion of the Chief Engineer, may be necessary to insure the 
completion of the work within the time hereinbefore limited, at 
such wages as the party of the first part may find necessary 
or expedient, and may pay all persons so employed and charge 
all amounts so paid as so much money paid to the party of the 
second part under this contract. 

It is further agreed and understood that if the said party of 
the second part shall not complete the said work within the time 
herein specified, and the said party of the first part shall, not- 
withstanding such failure, permit the said party of the second part 
to proceed with or complete the said work as if such time had not 
elapsed, such permission shall not be deemed a waiver in any 
respect, by the said party of the first part, of any forfeiture 
or liability for damages or expenses thereby incurred arising from 
such noncompletion of the said work within the time specified, 
but such forfeiture or liability shall still continue in full force 
against the said party of the second part as if such permission had 
not been granted. And it is further distinctly understood and 
agreed, that time, whenever involved in this agreement, is of the 
essence of this agreement. 

3. Nonpayment of Wages. In all cases of nonpayment by 
the said party of the second part of any sum or sums of money due 
the laborers or other workmen, for work performed under this 
agreement, the said party of the first part is hereby authorized 
to pay such laborers or workmen the amounts due and owing to 
them by the said party of the first part; and if any action or 
proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, by virtue of 
any law or statute now in force, or hereafter enacted, for labor 
and wages on said work, the said party of the first part may 
pay all damages, wages, recoveries, costs, expenses, and counsel 
fees arising therefrom, and deduct the same, and also whatever 
amounts may be paid for wages as before mentioned, from any 



154 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

moneys due or to grow due to the said party of the second part; 
and the said party of the first part may, from time to time, 
retain such reasonable sums as it may deem necessary for its 
protection in this behalf, and the said party of the second part shall 
forthwith pay to the party of the first part the amount of any 
deficiency arising from such payment of laborers or other work- 
men, and the retention from time to time of such reasonable sums 
as it may deem necessary for its protection in this behalf, and the 
said party of the second part shall pay the deficiency arising there- 
from upon demand. 

4. Discharge of Employes for Cause. The said party of the 
second part shall discharge any foreman or other emploj^e who 
shall, in the judgment of the said Chief Engineer, be unfaithful, 
unskillful, or remiss in the performance of his work, or guilty 
of riotous, disrespectful, or "otherwise improper conduct ; and no 
person so discharged from this work, or any other work done for 
the said party of the first part, shall be employed again by the 
said party of the second part upon the work to be done under 
this agreement, without the written consent of the said Chief 
Engineer. 

5. Use of Intoxicants. The use or sale of ardent spirits, or 
other intoxicating beverages upon the w^ork, or in any of the 
buildings, boarding houses, or other tenements owned, occu- 
pied, or within the control of the said party of the second part, 
or any of his employes, is strictly forbidden, and the said 
party of the second part shall exercise his influence and au- 
thority to the utmost extent to secure compliance with this 
regulation. 

6. Contractors to he Held Eesponsihle for Violations of Laws 
and Ordinances. In all operations connected with the work em- 
braced in this agreement the said party of the second part shall be 
held responsible for any failure to respect, adhere to, and comply 
with all local ordinances and laws controlling or limiting, in anj^ 
way, the actions of those engaged upon the work, or affecting 
the materials, or the transportation or disposition of them. And 
the said party of the second part hereby assumes all liability for, 
and agrees to indemnify the said party of the first part against 
all loss, cost, or damages for or by reason of any liens, claims, 
or demands for materials, or from laborers, mechanics, and others, 
and from any damages arising from injuries sustained by 
mechanics, laborers, or other persons, by reason of accidents 
or otherwise, and from damages sustained by depositing 
materials to public injury, or to the injury of any person or 
corporation, including costs and expenses of defense, pro- 
vided that he be duly notified of the bringing of suits in such 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 155 

cases, and be permitted to defend the same by his own counsel, 
if he should so elect. 

7. Contractor to he Responsible for Damages. Where the line 
of the railway passes through farms, the said party of the second 
part shall keep up such temporary fences as may be necessary 
for the preservation of the crops thereon. The said party of the 
second part shall be responsible for any damages that may be done 
by him or his workmen during the performance of this work to 
property adjacent to the line, in consequence of his or their un- 
skillfulness or negligence ; and if any such damage shall be done, 
the said Chief Engineer shall have the right to settle and pay 
the same; and deduct the amount thereof from the payments to 
be made upon the estimates. Whenever any work herein em- 
braced shall in any manner interfere with a public or private 
traveled road, the said party of the second part shall keep a tem- 
porary roadway, during such interference, at all times unob- 
structed and safe for travel, and any damages w^hicli may result 
from failure so to do may be settled and withheld, as above, until 
paid by the said party of the second part. 

8. Material and Labor Not Provided for in Specification to be 
Done and Furnished on Written Order of Chief Engineer. If, in 
the course of the performance of this contract, or any work there- 
under, it shall, according to the written opinion of the Chief 
Engineer, become necessary for the party of the second part to do 
any work or to furnish any material not embraced in the fore- 
going classification, or for which no price is hereinbefore speci- 
fied, then and in that event the party of the second part shall, if 
ordered in writing by the Chief Engineer, under and according 
to his directions, do all such work, and furnish all such material, 
and upon performance to the satisfaction of the said Chief Engi- 
neer, the party of the second part shall at the periods and in the 
manner herein provided for payments under the contract, receive 
therefor the reasonable value thereof, as the same shall be ascer- 
tained and determined by the Chief Engineer, at approximately 
the rate of payment above fixed for work or material (if any 
such there be) of substantially similar character;, or, at the dis- 
cretion of the Chief Engineer, a separate contract for such work 
and material (if any) may be entered into by the party of the 
first part with any person, and the person so contracting shall 
be permitted free access and facility in performing such work 
and furnishing such material, it being intended hereby to ex- 
clude, as far as possible, any claim for "extra" w^ork (so-called), 
and to provide for the most prompt, expeditious, and econom- 
ical prosecution of all work necessary to the principal under- 
taking. 



156 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

9. Chief Engineer May Alter Line, Location, etc. The said 
Chief Engineer shall have the right to make any alteration that 
may hereafter be determined upon by him as necessary or desir- 
able in the location, line, grade, plan, form, or dimensions of the 
work, either before or after the commencement of the same, de- 
fined in writing, and by, or without drawings ; and in case such 
alterations increase the quantities, the said party of the second part 
shall be paid for such excess at the contract rates herein speci- 
fied; but should such alterations diminish the quantity or extent 
of the work to be done, they shall not, under any circumstances, 
be construed as constituting and shall not constitute a claim for 
damages, on any ground whatever, nor shall any claim be made 
on account of anticipated profits, nor on any account whatever 
in respect to the work which may be altered or dispensed with, 
the intent of this provision being that only the work absolutely 
done shall be paid for, and at the prices named in this agreement. 

10. Claim for Extra WorU. No claim for extra work shall, 
under any circumstances, be made, allowed, or considered, unless 
the same shall have been done in pursuance of an order given in 
writing, as above provided, by the said Chief Engineer; but noth- 
ing shall be deemed or construed as extra work which can be 
classified, measured, and estimated under the terms of this 
agreement. 

11. Allowance for Delays. No extra compensation shall be 
made to the said party of the second part for hindrances or delays 
from any cause in the progress of any portion of the work per- 
formed under this agreement ; but if such delays or hindrances 
arise from any cause other than the fault of the said party of the 
second part, then and in that case, the said party of the second part 
shall be entitled to such extension of time for the completion of 
this contract as shall, in the opinion of the said Chief Engineer, 
be sufficient to compensate for any such detention, provided the 
said party of the second part shall give notice, in writing, to the 
said party of the first part of such hindrances and delays, stat- 
ing the cause thereof, within twenty-four hours after the same 
shall first occur. 

12. Right to Suspend Work. The said party of the first 
part reserves the right to suspend or terminate the work em- 
braced in this agreement for reasons not herein specified, and the 
said party of the second part hereby agrees to discontinue all work 
within ten days after receiving notice of such suspension or ter- 
mination, in which case, the said party of the second part sliall be 
entitled to payment in full for all materials actually handled or 
supplied, at a valuation to be fixed by the Chief Engineer, sub- 
ject to review, as hereinafter provided, but shall make no claim 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 157 

for consequential damages or anticipated profits upon work not 
actually performed or damage of any kind resulting from such 
suspension or termination. 

13. Repairs in Case of Defective Work. Any replacement or 
repairs rendered necessary upon or about the work herein con- 
tracted for, by reason of defective material or workmanship fur- 
nished or performed by the said party of the second part, shall be 
made by the said party of the second part upon demand, without 
cost or expense to the said party of the first part. 

14. Chief Engineer to Settle Disputes. All questions, differ- 
ences, or controversies which may arise between the parties hereto 
in regard to any work to be done under this agreement, whether 
as to its performance or non-performance, or in any way what- 
ever pertaining to or connected with said work, shall be referred 
to the said Chief Engineer, and his decision shall be in the nature 
of an award, and shall be final and conclusive upon both parties, 
and compliance on the part of the party of the second part with 
every such decision of the Chief Engineer shall be a condition 
precedent to the right to receive any payment hereunder. 

15. Modification of Contract. This contract, and any and 
every provision thereof, may be modified or extended by the 
mutual agreement of the parties hereto. 

16. Security. The contractor will be required to give an ap- 
proved trust company's bond in the sum of one-half the amount 
or approximate amount of the Contract, for the faithful execution 
and completion of the work. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The parties herein named have 
hereunto set their hands and seals, the day and year herein first 
above named. 
Attest : 

JCORPORATE SEAtJ fAST.LINE JAILROAD COMPAN^^ 

.1^^ By.^^\^ 

/y Secretary M President 

RELIANCE CONTRACTING COMPANY, Tl S 1 

[seal] By..VXXjjdLQLfi^ S.I 

Contractor 



Attest : 



r.U^^^C^. 

Secretary 



158 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

The following "Directions as to Execution of Contracts" are 
issued by the United States Government in connection with some 
of its contracts, and may be studied to the advantage of the 
student of this subject: 

1. The papers should be made in quadruplicate, and each 
copy should be the exact counterpart of the others, so that any 
one of them may be used as an original. 

2. Before signatures are appended to the papers, all dates 
should be written in, and all remaining blank spaces ruled out, 
with ink. 

3. Interlineations and erasures are to be avoided when pos- 
sible ; but when they are unavoidable, either in the specifications, 
the contract, or the bond, they should be noted, word by word, 
immediately above the signatures of the witnesses, specifying 
the number of each line where they occur; and certificate should 
be made that each specific correction or alteration w^as made 
before the contract was signed. A general statement that 
''erasures and interlineations were made before execution" is 
wholly insufficient. 

4. The full name and residence of each signer of contract 
and bond should be stated in the body of the instrument and 
the signature of each person should be witnessed by two other 
persons who should state their places of residence. 

5. When firms contract, the name of the firm and the full 
name of each member thereof should be written at the beginning 
of the contract; for instance, "Smith, Brown & Co., of the City 
of New York, a firm composed of John S. Smith, Charles B. 
Brown, and John W. Robinson". The contract should be signed 
in the firm name, viz: "Smith, Brown & Co., by John S. Smith", 
The bond given to guarantee fulfillment of a firm contract should 
be in the name of the individuals composing the firm and should 
be signed and sealed by each of them, or by his duly authorized 
attorney, proof of whose authority must be attached. 

6. When an incorporated company enters into contract, the 
corporate name of the company should be written at the begin- 
ning of the contract and bond; for instance, "The Smith and 
Brown Dredging Company, a corporation created by and existing 
under the laws of the State of New York, and having its prin- 
cipal office in the City of New York, in said State". The contract 
and bond should then be signed with the corporate name, by a 
person duly authorized to do so, sealed with the corporate seal, 
and a certificate, showing the signer's authority to sign sealed 
instruments in its behalf and that the seal affixed is the corporate 
seal, should be made by the secretary of the corporation or other 
custodian of its records, in the form prescribed. In cases where 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 159 

a corporation or other body organized under law, has no seal, 
one must be adopted for the occasion, and proof thereof should be 
made by affidavit of the secretary. 

7. The date of the bond must not antedate that of the con- 
tract. 

8. A firm will not be accepted as surety, nor will a partner 
be accepted as a surety for a copartner, or for a firm of which 
he is a member. An officer of a corporation will not be accepted 
as surety for such corporation. In no case will a married woman 
or an infant be accepted as a surety, and when an unmarried 
woman (widow or spinster) is given as a surety, she must be 
described as such in the body of the bond; nor will a bonded 
officer of the United States be accepted as a surety ; nor will any 
person be accepted who is an official or employe of any branch 
of the public service having to do with the contract, performance 
of which is guaranteed by the bond. 

9. There must not be less than two individual sureties, but 
one corporate surety, duly qualified under the act of Congress of 
August 13, 1894, may be accepted as sole surety, provided it files 
or has filed with the Solicitor of the Department of Commerce 
and Labor full proof of such compliance with the act as qualifies 
it to act as surety in the case. The Contractor and sureties should 
sign (or execute) each bond. Each surety, including a corporate 
surety, must qualify in double the amount of the bond. Indi- 
vidual sureties must justify upon the form of ''Bondsman's Oath" 
prescribed, and corporate surety companies upon the form of 
"Justification by Corporate Surety". 

10. The affidavits or affirmations of sureties must be made 
before an officer authorized to administer oaths generally. The 
authority to administer such oath must be shown by certificate, 
unless the oath was taken before a judge of a court of record, or 
before a clerk or deputy clerk of a court of record, a United 
States commissioner, or a notary public, and the official seal is 
attached. There should be a separate and distinct impression 
of the official seal for each oath or affirmation. The official title 
should follow the signature. 

11. Except in the case of proper corporate sureties, a judge 
or clerk of a state court of record, a judge or clerk or deputy 
clerk of a United States Court, a United States district attorney 
or one of his assistants, a United States commissioner, or a post- 
master must certify that the sureties are sufficient to pay double 
the penalty of the bond. 

12. An adhesive seal should be affixed to the signature of 
each principal and surety upon the bond, except when the prin- 



160 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

cipal or surety is a corporation, in which case the corporate seal 
should be affixed. 

13. When contracts and bonds have been thus prepared, and 
signed and sealed by the officer making them in behalf of the 
United States, they should be forwarded to the Board for its 
approval and the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and 
Labor. 

14. When approved by the Board and by the Secretary of 
Commerce and Labor, one copy shall be returned to the officer 
making the contract, for delivery to the Contractor, 



PROPOSALS 

Proposals or bids are offers or tenders to do a certain thing 
or to perform certain work, on certain conditions, for a con- 
sideration. They are generally in writing. 

The Engineer should prepare a blank form of proposal for 
the bidders to use in making the tender, with the necessary 
instructions as to the manner in which it is to be filled out, the 
limit of time when bids will be received, etc. 

Notice to Bidders. The notice or instructions to bidders 
should give the necessary information and instructions, and should 
cover the following: 

The form in which the bids should be sent. 

The party for whom the work is to be done. 

That the Contractor be skilled and regularly engaged in the 
line of work bid for. 

When and where the plans and specifications can be obtained. 

What, if any, deposit must be made with the Company before 
taking out a set of the plans and specifications. 

How to endorse the proposal. 

The date and hour when the reception of bids will be closed. 

Bidder to visit the site of the work. 

Bidder to examine the plans carefully. 

Bidder to give the number of days required to do the work 
and date of completion. 

Bidder to follow the printed form. 

Bidder to make no conditional bid. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 161 

Bidder to write amounts as well as to give figures in filling 
out proposal. 

Bidder to furnish guarantee to enter into contract within 
days of award of contract. 

The amount of the one or more bids required (if any) and 
their character. 

The Company's right to reject any or all bids, or to accept 
any bid. 

The relation between the Company and the successful bidder 
during the period between the acceptance of bid and the execu- 
tion of the contract. 

That a foreign corporation (one chartered in another State 
than that in which the proposal is to be tendered) must furnish, 
with its proposal, a certificate from the state authorities entitling 
it to do business within said State. 

That the proposals must contain no omissions, erasures, alter- 
ations, additions not called for, nor conditional bids. 

In addition to the above, the notice should call the bidder's 
attention to local laws affecting the employment of labor and 
the necessity of signing the proposal with the individual's name 
and place of residence, as well as the firm's name and business 
address. 

If quantities are set forth in the notice, a clause should state 
that the quantities i^sed are necessarily approximate, and that 
the Company reserves the right to increase or decrease them. 
The purpose of sometimes placing the approximate quantities 
in the notice to bidders is to use them as a basis of comparison 
to determine the lowest bidder, in unit price contracts. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS* 

U. S. Government Lighthouse Board. The following instruc- 
tions to bidders are used by the United States Government in 
the proposals of the Lighthouse Board. A study of them will 
give much information on the subject. 

(1) All bids and guaranties must be made in duplicate upon 
the printed form attached hereto, which must not be detached. 

* Failure to comply with these instructions renders the bid informal and liable 
to be rejected. 



162 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

(2) Each bid must state in words, as well as in figures, the 
sum for which the entire work, as show^n on the plans and 
described in the specifications, will be completed and delivered 
at such time as is named in the specifications. 

(3) The work will be subject to the personal supervision of 
the Lighthouse Engineer or his agent, and all facilities must be 
afforded him for inspecting the materials and workmanship. 

(4) All blanks in the form of bid or guaranty must be filled 
in. Interlineations and erasures in the bid and guaranty are to 
be avoided, but when they are unavoidable they should be specifi- 
cally noted word by word by the signers as having been made 
before execution. The general statement that ''erasures and 
interlineations were made before execution" is insufficient. 

(5) No bid will be received by telegraph. 

(6) The bidder's place of residence, with county and State, 
must be given after his signature, which must be written in 
full. 

(7) Anyone signing a bid as the agent of another, or of 
others, must file with it legal evidence of his authority to do so. 

(8) When firms bid, the name of the firm and the full name 
of each member thereof should be written at the beginning of 
the bid; for instance, "Smith, Brown & Co., of the City of New 
York, a firm composed of John S. Smith, Charles B. Brown, and 
John W. Robinson". The bid should be signed in the firm name 
by a member of the firm, thus, ''Smith, Brown & Co., by John S. 
Smith, a member of the firm". "When corporations bid, the bid 
should be signed with the corporate name b}^ some person duly 
authorized to do so (evidence of whose authority should be 
appended), and sealed with the corporate seal. 

(9) Bidders should satisfy the United States of their ability 
to furnish the material and perform the work specified. Lack of 
evidence of such ability will be sufficient cause for rejection of 
any bid. 

(10) Reasonable grounds for inferring that any bidder is 
interested in more than one bid for the same item will cause the 
rejection of all bids in which he is interested. 

(11) Bids submitted by different members of the same firm 
or copartnership will not be considered. 

(12) The right is reserved to reject any or all bids or any 
part of a bid, to strike out any item or items in the specifications, 
and to waive any defects. 

(13) All bids must be signed and inclosed in an envelope 
indorsed "Proposals for tlie construction of buildings at Punta 
Gorda Light Station, California", and then inclosed in anotlier 
envelope and either delivered in person to the office of the Engi- 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 163 

neer of the Twelfth Lighthouse District at San Francisco, Cal., 
or addressed and sent to him through the mail, postage prepaid. 

(14) All bids will be publicly opened and recorded at the time 
specified in the advertisement. Bidders are invited to be present 
and to witness the opening of the bids. 

(15) The contract will be in the form attached hereto, and 
bidders are understood as accepting the terms and conditions 
contained in such form of contract. ' 

(16) The accompanying advertisement, plans, and specifica- 
tions, together with these instructions, will form a part of the 
contract. 

(17) Should the bidder to whom the contract may be awarded 
fail to enter into contract within 10 days after notice is given 
him that his bid has been accepted, he will be considered a 
defaulting bidder, and recommendation will be made to the Sec- 
retary of Commerce and Labor that thereafter no proposal of his 
be considered. 

(18) A bond, with one corporate surety or two individual 
sureties, in the sum of 25 per cent of the amount of the bid, will 
be required for the faithful performance of the contract, condi- 
tioned also that the Contractor shall promptly make payment to 
all persons supplying him or them with labor or materials in the 
prosecution of the work provided for in such contract. Each 
surety will be required to justify in double the amount of the 
bond. If at any time during the contract period the Secretary 
of Commerce and Labor deems the security furnished by the Con- 
tractor insufficient, additional security may be required. 

(19) A firm will not be accepted as a surety or guarantor, 
nor will a partner be accepted as a surety or guarantor, for a co- 
partner or for a firm of which he is a member. An officer of a 
corporation will not be accepted as a surety or guarantor for 
such corporation. A married woman or an infant will not be 
accepted as a surety or guarantor under any circumstances. 

(20) No bid will be accepted or contract entered into until 
approved by the Lighthouse Board and the Secretary of Com- 
merce and Labor. 

(21) Transfers of contracts, or of interests in contracts, are 
prohibited by law. (See IT. S. R. S., sec. 3737.) 

(22) Payment for the work will be made upon the certificate 
of the agent of the Lighthouse Board that it has been completed 
and delivered according to contract. 

(23) The entire work must be completed and delivered at the 
time provided for in the specifications and contract. 

(24) Any expense incurred by the United States on account 
of failure on the part of the Contractor to perform the service 



164 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

for which he has entered into contract will be sufficient to cause 
the annulment of the contract, should the Lighthouse Board, with 
the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, so decide. 

(25) No proposal will be considered unless accompanied by a 
guaranty or a certified check in manner and form as directed in 
these instructions. 

(26) The guaranty attached to each copy of the bid must be 
signed by two responsible guarantors, to be certified as good and 
sufficient guarantors by a judge or clerk of a United States court, 
a United States district attorney or one of his assistants, a United 
States commissioner, a postmaster, or a judge or clerk of a state 
court of record, with the seal of said court attached, or by a 
guaranty or surety company duly authorized in accordance with 
the provisions of an Act of Congress approved August 13, 1894. 

(27) Each guarantor must justify in the sum of 20 per cent 
of the amount of the bid. The liability of the guarantors and 
bidder is expressed in the guaranty attached to the bid. 

(28) Plans and specifications must accompany bid. 

(29) No person who has failed to perform satisfactorily any 
contract with the United States or to abide by any bond or 
guaranty given by him for the performance of any contract or 
proposal will be accepted as guarantor. 

(30) In lieu of the guaranty a certified check in a sum equal 
to one-fourth of the amount of the bid, payable to the order of the 
Secretary of Commerce and Labor, will be accepted, and the pro- 
ceeds of such check shall become the property of the United States, 
if, for any reason whatsoever, the bidder, after the opening of bids, 
withdraws from the competition, or refuses to execute the con- 
tract and bond required in the event of said contract being 
awarded to him. All checks submitted will be returned to the 
bidders immediately after the approval of the contract and bond 
executed by the successful bidder. 

(31) The attention of intending bidders for this work is 
invited to an Act of Congress approved August 1, 1892, which 
provides that the service and employment of all laborers and 
mechanics employed by any contractor or subcontractor upon 
any of the public works of the United States or of the District of 
Columbia is limited and restricted to 8 hours in any 1 calendar 
day, and that it shall be unlawful for any such contractor or sub- 
contractor whose duty it shall be to employ, direct, or control 
the services of such laborers or mechanics to require or permit 
any such laborers or mechanics to work more than 8 hours in 
any calendar day, except in case of extraordinary emergency. 
A violation of tliis statute is punishable by a fine or imprison- 
ment, or by both fine and imprisonment. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



165 



Provisions for Recording Prices. The notice to bidders should 
be attached to the form of proposal and form a part of the con- 
tract. In the form of proposal it is well to have under the head 
of Price Bid, two columns; one headed dollars, the other cents, 
as given below : 



PRICE BID 



no 



Dollars 


Ckxts 


No 

5 

29 


03 
65 
00 



Wrought iron, per pound, 

dollars ^^^.^.^. cents 

Concrete, per cubic yard, fJI-.Y® 

dollars sixty.-five ^^nts 

Bessemer steel rails, per ton, ."l-^.^^.tiy"?.-!-.?^®. 

dollars ™?. cents 



The greatest number of mistakes are generally made by bid- 
ders in placing the decimal point in the wrong position. The 
above suggested form helps to prevent this. Of course mistakes 
in formal bids cannot be rectified after the bid has been opened, 
no matter how apparent the error may be. 

The following cautionary clause is sometimes inserted in the 
form of proposal : 

Caution — Bidders are cautioned against placing a dollar bid 
in the cents column, and the reverse; as any error of this char- 
acter, no matter how obviously it may be an error, will cause the 
rejection of the whole bid as being informal. 

TYPICAL PROPOSALS 

The following will illustrate the wording used in describing 
various items in proposals. 



PROPaSAL I 

(City, County, and State) (Date)- ^31"^^^...}.^.*. 191..1 

To the Commissioner of Bridges, City of Bergen, State of 

Wisconsin. 

Sir: — ....?®... hereby propose to furnish all materials, appliances, 
labor, and transportation necessary to perform the work, and 
submit to all conditions as represented, intended, and implied, 
both particularly and generally, in the specifications and articles 



166 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



of agreement, for the S^P:^^^^...^'^.^':}:^...!?}'^. 

Black Creek, 
exa^ned'artii^offic^ofZZZjJ^^^^ 

in the Ordinance of Councils, for the construction of the said work, 
and perform all additional work that may be required, upon the 
following terms, to wit: 



PRICE BID 



Item No. 1. For all excavations of all classes 
of materials, per cubic yard, the sum of 
."two dollars ^i^.^l cents 

Item No. 2. For concrete, Class A 1-3-6, per 
cubic yard in place, the sum of ®.™Y.f.?. 

dollars .?.?:.?.?^.^Z. cents 

Item No. 3. For terra cotta sewer, 12 inches 
and under in place complete, with all appurte- 
nances per linear foot, the sum of ™™ 

dollars !^®?. L..cents 

Item No. 4. For vitrified-brick pavement, in 

place per square foot, the sum of ?.?. 

dollars ^^^I^L cents 

Item No. 5. For reinforcing steel, in place, per 

pound, the sum of ?° dollars 

?.f.Y.f. cents 

Item No. 6. For placing city hydrants, each 

the sum of .^.^ ^1® ®?. dollars h'^.e^.^y 

cents 



Note. — ^When it is likely that some additional work will have to be done 
by force account, it is wise to have the bidder quote a price per hour, for the 
various classes of additional labor and use of machinery, the items appearing 
in the proposal as follows: 

Additional Work. For additional labor and use of machinery 
of the various classes enumerated below, as ordered by the Chief 
Engineer, including cost of superintendence, use of tools, repairs, 
oil, waste, and fuel. 

PRICE BID 

Item No. 7. For foreman, per hour, the sum 

of l^P. dollars..-Sexenty::five 

cents 
Item No. 8. For riveter, regular working hours, 

per hour, the sum of .».?. dollars 

^.f.?^.?'^. cents 



Dollars 


Cents 


2 


50 


11 


80 


2 


10 





30 





05 


15 


20 



Dollars 


Cents 






75 
60 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



167 



For riveter, overtime, per hour, the 
^P. dollars R^^.^.^.V.. 



PRICE BID 

Item No. 9. 

sum of- 

cents 
Item No. 10. For use of team (2 horses and 

wagon), including driver, per hour, the sum 

of .^° dollars seventy cents 

Item No. 11. For use of boiler and hoisting 

engine, per hour, the sum of ?.9 

dollars .?eventy-five ^^^^^ 

Item No. 12. To be added to all additional ma- 
terials specially purchased by the Contractor 

by written order ."f:.®^ per cent 

--y^ agree to complete the whole of the work in 

-I-.??...... working days from the date of notice from the 

Chief Engineer to proceed. 

WITNESS ?H hand, this 15th ^^y ^f 

January, ^gi 4. 



Dollars 


Cents 








90 
70 

75 







2^.'. /3.J:^rr:iho'r>:?r^... 




rh^cfV^ 



Trading as SMITH, JONES & BRQWN, Contractors. 



Note. — The Contractor shall here give individual as well as firm names. 
Address. -^"^ South Front Street, Chicago, Illinois. 

The following is a form of guaranty for the bidder executing 
contract within 10 days of the notice that his bid has been ac- 
cepted. It should be attached to the proposal, as a part thereof. 



The 



GUARANTY 

Standard Construction Company 



of il JaLl..?t.reet^ New York CU^^ ^ Corporation exist- 
ing under the laws of the State of ^P1..^.9^y^.j. hereby 

undertakes that if the bid of ten thousand five hu^^^ 

...f*.?.-':.^.^^.?.... herewith accompanying, dated .^.^.^.^.^.^.^ ..^..?..'. 

191 ^» for ^^e construction of the Little Falls bridge on 
the line of the Ontario Central Railroad, 



168 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

be accepted as to any or all of the items bid for, the said bidder 
Standard Construction Company 

will, within ten (10) days after notice of award of contract, enter 

into a contract with the.™ 9j^^n9...9^F^±..^?^j:S>^. „ 

Company, to perform all work specified therein at the prices 
offered by said bid, and will give bond with good and sufficient 
surety or sureties, as may be required, for the faithful and proper 
fulfillment of such contract. And said Corporation binds itself and 

its successors to pay the.- O?.la£io.. Central Ran road 

Company, in case the said bidder shall fail to enter into such con- 
tract or give such bond within ten (10) days after said notice of 
award of contract, the difference in money between the amount 
of bid of said bidder on the work so accepted, and the amount 

for which the....- 9?.^.a5..i°...?.e.^.^ia.L..??ilroad Company 

may contract with another party to perform said work, if the 
latter amount be in excess of the former. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The name and corporate seal of 

said corporation has been hereto affixed, this ^^.^^. 

day of ^?.^?.^^.^y.? 191...'^. , and these presents duly 

signed by its (1) .??®?A!^®^."^..'. pursuant to a resolution of 

its (2) l9^^A.9L.Pll?.9.^PL^.j. passed on the .l?th 

day of .'January.'. A. D. 191..1 

Attest: [corporate seal] (3) 

u\QlM^ \p/^/y^^ By.y7^T<r:^^rr^.../^^ 

Secretary ° ^President 

(1) The president or oflRcor authorized to sign for the Corporation. 

(2) The board of directors or other governing bodj' of the Corporation. 

(3) Here aflSx the corporate seal. 

Note. Instead of a guaranty of the above nature, sometimes a certified 
check, drawn on a national bank or trust company, is required to accompany the 
proposal to serve the same purpose. 

PROPOSAL II 

The following form of proposal may be used in railroad work : 

For the grading and structures on the .?^jr.^As.^.!?: 

Li^® Railroad from Station !?'®?. to Station 

P^^eJ^.u^.^ref^.. sixteen ^^^ undersigned hereby certifi^.®^ 

that he ha^ sufficiently examined the locality and sec- 
tions of the .?^r.^j!-.?^.l..^.i.".® Railroad on which the work 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



169 



proposed for below is situated; and that he ha.^. 

also carefully examined the specifications, terms, and conditions 
applicable to said work, set forth in the form herewith attached, 
and having made such examinations and understanding thor- 
oughly the nature and conditions of the work to be let, the under- 
signed hereby proposes to the .^i^-I.^.^.^l^.li...^.?:?®. ..?.^.?:lr..?.^.4 

Company to do all the work on either or all of the items to which 
prices are affixed in the following schedule, according to speci- 
fications, terms, and conditions aforesaid; and on the accept- 
ance of these proposals for all or either of the items named 
therein, do®? hereby bind l^A?.?®. •!•.?. to enter into and exe- 
cute the work thereon, at the following prices, viz : 



Grading 

(1) Clearing, per acre, the sum 
of 

(2) Grubbing, per acre, the sum 
of 

(3) Solid rock, per cubic yard, 
the sum of 

(4) Loose rock, per cubic yard, 
the sum of 

(5) Earth in cuts, per cubic 
yard, the sum of 

(6) Earth borrowed, per cubic 
yard, the sum of 

(7) Ditching in earth, per cubic 
yard, the sum of 

Excavations in Water for Bridge 
Foundations 

(8) Solid rock, per cubic yard, 
in water for bridge founda- 
tions, the sum of 

(9) Loose rock, per cubic yard, 
in water for bridge founda- 

i tions, the sum of 

(10) Earth, per cubic yard, in 
water for bridge founda- 
tions, the sum of 

Masonry 

(11) First-class masonry, per 
cubic yard in place, the 
sum of 



Section 1 



Section 2 



Dollar? 


Cents 


Dollars 


Cents 


50 


00 


65 


00 


245 


00 


280 


00 


1 


50 


1 


00 





62 





68 





30 





32 





30 





32 





22 





25 


3 


00 


2 


55 


1 


45 


1 


45 


1 


20 


1 


30 


8 


00 


8 


00 



170 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 



Masonry — Cont'd 

(12) Second-class masonry, per 
cubic yard in place, the 
sum of 

(13) Third-class masonry, per 
cubic yard in place, the 
sum of 

(14) Slope wall, per cubic yard, 
in place, the sum of 

(15) Rip-rap, per cubic yard in 
place, the sum of 

(16) Concrete No. 1, per cubic 
yard in place, the sum of 

(17) Concrete No. 2, per cubic 
yard in place, the sum of 

(18) Concrete No. 3, per cubic 
yard in place, the sum of 

Frame and Pile Trestle 

(19) Framing and erecting pile 
and timber trestles, per M 
feet board measure with all 
appurtenances in place, the 
sum of 

(20) Pointing, shoeing, driving, 
and sawing off piles, per 
linear foot measured from 
*' cut-off" to point, the sum 
of 

Timber in Foundation 

(21) Yellow pine in private cross- 
ings, over meadow ditches 
and box drains, per M feet 
board measure with all ap- 
purtenances in place, the 
sum of 

(22) Hauling and laying 12-inch 
double strength terra cotta 
sewer pipe, per lineal foot in 
place, the sum of 

(23) Hauling and laying 18-inch 
double strength terra cotta 
pipe, per lineal foot in place, 
the sum of 



Section 1 


Section 2 


Dollars 


Cents 


Dollars 


Cents 


6 


50 


6 


50 


4 


00 


4 


00 


2 


50 


2 


50 


2 


00 


2 


00 


11 


00 


11 


00 


7 


50 


7 


50 


5 


75 


5 


75 


55 


00 


57 


00 





13 





14 


42 


00 


42 


00 





14 





16 





28 





28 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 171 



Section 1 



Section 2 



Timber in Foundation — Cont'd 

(24) Hauling and laying 24-incli 
double strength terra cotta 
pipe, per lineal foot in place, 
the sum of 

(25) Hauling and laying 30-inch 
double strength terra cotta 
pipe, per lineal foot in place, 
the sum of 

(26) Hauling and laying 12-inch 
cast-iron water pipe, per 
lineal foot in place, the sum 
of 

(27) Hauling and laying 14-inch 
cast-iron water pipe, per 
lineal foot in place, the sum 
of 

(28) Hauling and laying 24-inch 
cast-iron water pipe, per 
lineal foot in place, the sum 
of 



The undersigned further propose __?__ to commence work on 

such section or sections as may be awarded to ^.^^. 

within .'^.^H.'^y days from the date thereof, and to complete 

the same on cw: before the ^P.^h day of ._.^H^y?. 191...?.!._ 



Dollars 


Cents 


Dollars 


Cents 





52 





52 





80 





80 





16 





20 





20 





22 





40 





44 





Signed thik" ."tenth ^^y of.-, i^nuaryr... 191. 

Proposer 's residence ?.9?...9.^®.®?...?."f:r.®®^..» 

Postoffice Address ^^^.9^.?^.^.^?. 

Pennsylvania. 



THE ADVERTISEMENT 

Purpose. The advertisement is of minor importance and only 
in government and some municipal contracts is it considered of 
sufficient importance to be made a part of the contract. 

Under the law, most public work — that is, government, state, 
county, municipal, and borough work — must be advertised in a 



172 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

certain number of papers, over a certain period, before the public 
letting takes place. 

The Engineer should ascertain the requirements of the law 
in regard to advertising public work before drawing up a con- 
tract, as contracts have been declared invalid upon its being found 
that they had not been properly advertised. 

Of course the object of advertising is to secure competition 
between parties who are engaged in the kind of business or work 
to be performed, and hence the advertisement should be so headed 
as to attract the attention of the firms capable of performing this 
work. 

Essential Features. The advertisement should be concisely 
worded, as every word is an additional cost to the party for whom 
the work is to be done ; on the other hand, it should give the fol- 
lowing information: 

(a) A heading that will attract the attention of desirable 
bidders. 

(b) The address where plans and specifications can be seen 
and procured. 

(c) The address where proposals will be received. 

(d) The date of the insertion of the advertisement. 

(e) The date and hour until which proposals will be received. 

(f ) The manner of presenting the bid, viz, sealed, or in dupli- 
cate or triplicate, etc. 

(g) The date of opening the bids. 

(h) The kind and approximate quantity of work to be done, 
or such information as will give an idea of the magnitude of the 
work. 

(i) The locality where the work is to be done. 

(j) The right to reject any or all bids. 

(k) The name and address of the parties for whom the work 
is to be done, or their Agent. 

Sometimes the entire matter included in the ''Notice to Bid- 
ders" under "Proposals" is published. The objection to this is 
the great cost of so extended an advertisement. 

The manner of arranging these requirements will be shown by 
a few examples. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 173 

TYPICAL ADVERTISEMENTS 
METAL WORK 

To Iron Manufacturers, (a) 

Office of the Lighthouse Engineer, Third District, 
Tompkinsville, New York (b). 191 (c) 

Sealed Proposals in duplicate (d) will be received at this 

office (e) until 12 o'clock noon (f) 

191 (g), for furnishing the materials and labor of all kinds 

necessary for the completion and delivery of the metal work of 
the Peck's Ledge Lighthouse (h), Cockenoe Island Harbor, 
Conn, (i) 

Plans, specifications, forms of proposal, and other informa- 
tion may be obtained on application to this office (b). 

The right is reserved to reject any or all bids and to waive 
any defects, (j) 

— .. -. (k) 

Lieutenant Col. of Engineers, U. S. A., Lighthouse Engineer. 

(a) Heading, (b) Address, (c) Date of Insertion, (d) Manner of presenting, 
(e) Proposals received, (f) Bidding closed, (g) Proposals opened, (li) Character 
of work, (i) Locality, (j) Right to reject, (k) Party letting work. 

BRIDGE WORK 

The following is an advertisement for the superstructure of 
the ill-fated Quebec bridge : 

The clause in regard to prices of labor is unusual in an adver- 
tisement. The clause in regard to other newspapers inserting 
the advertisement without authority is a very wise one, as it is 
not an unusual practice for newspapers in municipalities to insert 
such advertisement without orders from the proper party to do 
so, and then issue bills for same, which are really nothing less 
than blackmail. 

QUEBEC BRIDGE 

Department op Railways and Canals 

tenders for superstructure 

NOTICE TO CONTEACTOES 

Sealed tenders addressed to the undersigned and endorsed 
*' Tender for Quebec Bridge Superstructure" will be received at 
this office until 12 o'clock noon, not later than September 1, 1910, 
for the superstructure of a bridge across the St. Lawrence River 
near the City of Quebec. 



174 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Plans and specifications may be seen and forms of tender 
obtained on and after July 1, 1910, at the office of the Quebec 
Bridge Board of Engineers, Canadian Express Building, Montreal, 
and at the Department of Railways and Canals, Ottawa. 

Parties tendering will be required to accept the fair wages 
schedule prepared or to be prepared by the Department of Labor, 
which schedule will form part of the contract. 

Contractors are requested to bear in mind that tenders will 
not be considered unless made strictly in accordance with the 
printed forms, and in the case of firms, unless there are attached 
the actual signatures, the nature of the occupation, and place of 
residence of each member of the firm. 

An accepted bank check for the sum of $500,000.00 made pay- 
able to the order of the Minister of Railways and Canals of 
Canada must accompany each tender, which sum will be forfeited 
if the party tendering declines entering into contract for the 
work at the rates stated in the offer submitted and in accordance 
with the terms stated in the form of contract accompanying the 
specifications. 

Checks thus sent in will be returned to the respective con- 
tractors whose tenders are not accepted. 

The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. 

L. K. J., 
Secretary 
Department of Railways and Canals, 
Ottawa, June 17, 1910. 

Newspapers inserting this advertisement without authority from the De- 
partment will not be paid for it. 



MACADAM EOADS 

Denison, Texas. 

Sealed proposals will be received by the Commissioners' Court 
of Grayson County, Texas, up to the hour of 11 o'clock a.m., on 
August 10, 1910, at the office of said Court in Sherman, Texas, 
for the construction of approximately 65 miles of macadam road- 
way in Road District No. 1 of Grayson County, Texas. Said 
district is situated in the north central part of Grayson County, 
in and about the City of Denison. 

Profiles, plans, and specifications will be on file in the office 
of J. C. Field, Engineer in charge, Denison, Texas, after July 1, 
1910. Copies will be sent applicants on receipt of $2.00, to be 
returned to depositor if bid is made. A certified check for 
$5,000.00 on some Grayson County bank must be deposited with 
each bid, to be returned to unsuccessful bidders; and to be 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 175 

returned to successful bidder, upon his entering into contract and 
bond in accordance with his bid, within 10 days from its accept- 
ance. Failure so to enter into contract and bond will forfeit 
check to district. 

The right is reserved to reject any and all bids. 

H. R. W., 

Auditor, Grayson Co., 

Sherman, Texas 

It is useless to multiply examples of advertisements, as many 
examples of the requirements of a good advertisement can be 
seen at any time in the leading technical journals. 

PRACTICE IN SPECIFICATION AND CONTRACT 

WRITING 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 

Examination of Actual Work. Below will be found a few sub- 
jects for practice in specification writing. Before attempting to 
write a specification for any of the subjects given, the student, if 
possible, should go out and make careful examination of such a 
piece of work in process of construction. If none is available, 
make a minute examination of a finished structure, note its strong 
points and its defects, and seek a remedy for the latter, embodying 
the ideas in the specification to be written. 

If the structure is in process of building, make a thorough 
examination of the character of the materials entering into the 
work, watch the process, question the workmen and foremen as 
to character of foundation and as to any special features 
embodied in the construction. Examine brands of materials and 
if better processes of construction are apparent to you, discuss the 
subject with the foreman or superintendent with the idea of 
getting his criticism of your suggestions. 

Study of Good Specifications. Follow this up by collecting 
two or three good specifications covering the subject in hand, 
and make a comparative study of them. 

Draivings. If drawings are to be a part of the contract, the 
sheets must be properly numbered and a list of them set forth in 
the specification, which list should be inserted just before the 
detailed description of the work. 



176 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

Order of Headings. A complete list of headings and subhead- 
ings should be made and arranged in their proper order. This is 
difficult, as there are so many items which have little connec- 
tion with each other. 

The method generally foUow^ed is to arrange the clauses as 
nearly as possible in the order in which the building actually 
takes place in the work under consideration. For instance, in a 
railroad specification the headings should be arranged as follows : 
Clearing, Grubbing, Grading, Tunnels, Excavation, Foundations, 
Masonry, Pipe Drains, Timber in foundation. Timber in trestles, 
Bridges, Tracklaying, Surfacing, etc. Of course there are many 
items that cannot be arranged chronologically; often one clause 
or heading suggests the following one, which method, carried out 
consistently, will give the desired result. It is very desirable 
that specifications for a complete piece of construction be prop 
erly indexed. 

The following examples are given as good subjects for prac- 
tice in specification writing: 

TYPICAL PROBLEMS 

Examples. (1) A single-track railroad handling heavy freight 
traffic wishes to replace a frame trestle across a stream by a steel 
plate girder bridge on concrete masonry abutments; clear span 
75 feet. The approaches to the bridge back of the abutments are 
to be filled in with material obtained by widening out an adjacent 
cut; material in cut, sand, and loose rock; borings show hard 
gravel at 25 feet. Prepare a complete specification for both sub- 
and superstructure. The w^ork will eventually be sublet; the 
masonry to one firm and the steel to another, and the grading 
and foundations to still another. 

The work is located in Northern New York State. 

(2) A timber trestle across a meadow in the State of Wash- 
ington has been burned and must be replaced at once, to open 
traffic at the earliest possible date. The trestle is 1650 feet long; 
1100 feet of the track is but 9 feet above the marsh ; the 550 feet 
remaining varies in depth from 9 to 22 feet; profile shows but 
3 feet of earth and gravel overlying the rock at the lowest point. 



CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 177 

Prepare a complete specification for replacing the trestle in the 
most economical manner. 

(3) Prepare complete specification for a double-track steel 
bridge ; tracks 13 feet center to center ; span 245 feet ; live load, 
Cooper's Class E 50; steel to be erected by a sub-contractor; 
bridge to be complete ; ties laid ready for the rails ; two coats of 
paint after erection. 

(4) Prepare a complete specification for a concrete retaining 
wall 875 feet long, varying in height from 8 feet above track at 
one end to 24 feet at the other end. The wall is surcharged with 
a sandy loam embankment, 15 feet high at the end of the wall 
which is lowest, 2 feet high at the other. Foundations in soft 
rock in Eastern Pennsylvania. 

(5) Write a complete specification and articles of agreement 
for the building of a double-track electric interurban railroad 
22 miles long, in Northern New Jersey. The road crosses 2 nav- 
igable rivers — one crossing is 1700 feet and the other 650 feet in 
length. Both loose and solid rock will be encountered; the road 
crosses under 2 trunk line railroads and over 4 others; it crosses 
at grade 3 street railways. There are on the line 2 10-foot 
reinforced-concrete arched culverts; 1240 linear feet of framed 
timber trestle on concrete footings. Rail 70 pounds per yard. 
Track in stone ballast. To be operated by overhead trolley. 
Electric current to be purchased from a local company. Station 
grounds to be graded. 

(6) A street 1 mile long is to be paved with vitrified brick 
on concrete base ; streets crossing 500 feet apart ; soil sandy loam. 
One half of it is to be curbed with new granite curb. The other 
half has been curbed with blue stone and is badly out of line and 
grade. Water, gas, and electric conduits are in the street, one- 
half of which has to be lowered varying in depth from 1 to 5 feet 
at the summit. 

Prepare a complete specification for the above, bearing in 
mind that each company owning the structures in the street will 
do the work of altering its pipe and conduits at the expense of 
the Contractor. 

(7) Prepare complete specification for a curved dam to be 
located in Georgia. It is to be 245 feet long, built of concrete 



178 CIVIL SPECIFICATIONS AND CONTRACTS 

faced with ashlar masonry ; soft rock foundations with the abut- 
ting banks of the river of same material; dam will be 18 feet 
high above river bed ; maximum depth of water is 8 feet at ordi- 
nary stages; river is subject to frequent freshets; purpose of dam 
is for flushing out at frequent intervals a large main sewer. 

(8) Prepare specification for two docks on creosoted piles; 
superstructure to be of reinforced concrete; depth of water 20 
feet, to be dredged to 32 feet in slip, which is 150 feet wide; 
docks each to be 65 feet wide and 450 feet long; concrete bulk- 
'head between the two docks. The structure will be located at 
New Orleans and will have two docks, the upper one for pas- 
senger service. 

(9) Prepare complete contract for a brick-arch bridge; span 
70 feet; rise 12 feet; springing line 7 feet above the sidewalks; 
bridge carries an avenue 80 feet wide across a 70-foot street; 
there is on the street a double track electric railway on which 
cars are very frequent and travel must not be interfered with; 
end walls and parapet to be of first-class masonry. 

(10) A Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
wishes to build, in the City of Boston, a reinforced concrete 
chimney, 10 feet interior diameter, height 175 feet, foundation on 
hard blue clay. 

Prepare complete contract for same including Advertisement, 
Proposal, with Notice to Bidders, and form of Bond required, 
Specifications, and Articles of Agreement. 



INDEX 



PAGE 

A 

Additional men, right of company to employ 14 

Advertisements, typical 173 

bridge work 173 

essential features 172 

macadam roads 174 

metal work 173 

purpose 171 

Quebec bridge 173 

Agreement, forms of 136 

general 140 

railway 143 

Alterations 24 

B 

Bond 29 

Borings 14 

Bridges 57 

highway 71 

railroad 57 

Buildings for Engineer and Inspector 19 

Buildings, structural steel for 55 

C 

Care of materials 14 

Cement 43 

Claims 23 

Clauses or provisions, general and specific 5 

Concrete 44 

Concrete macadam 100 

Conditions, avoidance of unusual 7 

Contract 2, 131 

arbitrators 135 

bond 134 

consideration 133 

duties of parties 134 

essential elements 131 

guaranty 134 

mutual consent 133 

nature and purpose 131 

: . number of parties 131 

payment clauses 135 

provide for all conditions 134 

subject matter 133 



182 INDEX 

FAOB 

Contract, abandonment or violation of 28 

Contract, fulfilling the 13 

execution of work 13 

inspection 15 

miscellaneous obligations of contractor 18 

protective and labor clauses 17 

Contractor, obligations of 18 

Contractor, duties of 13 

Contracts, dividing line between 8 

Creosote, treatment of timber with 81 

Culverts 53 

cast-iron pipe 54 

terra cotta drain pipe 53 

Curbing 108 

D 

Damages 23 

Definitions, careful statement of 10 

Delays 18 

Drawings 3, 10 

general 11 

record 11 

Drawings, plans, etc 10 

construing 10 

necessary to render work complete 11 

notes upon drawings 12 

verbal agreements 12 

work in accordance with plans 11 

E 

Electric railway, overhead construction for 93 

Engineer 2 

knowledge required of 7 

Engineering 1 

Estimate, monthly 27 

Execution of work 13 

borings 14 

care of materials 14 

delay in procuring right of way 13 

duties of contractors 13 

extension of time 15 

materials to be furnished 14 

prosecution of work 13 

right of company to employ additional men 14 

what prices are to include 15 

Extra work 24 

F 

Foundations 35 



INDEX 183 

PA.OB 

G 

General instructions 1 

contract 2 

drawings 3 

engineer 2 

engineering 1 

specifications 4 

Grouping provisions 9 

H 

Headings, order of 176 

I 

Inspection of work , 15 

cost of 16 

during construction 15 

final inspection 16 

labor furnished to inspector 16 

Insurance, builders' 17 

Interference with travel 22 

Interstate rules for classification and inspection of yellow pine lumber 52 

Iron work for timber trestles 84 

L 

Liability of contractor 21 

Liens 27 

Liquidated damages 23 

Lumber 51 

classification and inspection of yellow pine 52 

M 

Marks and stakes to be preser\ed 12 

Masonry 36 

classification of 39-48 

waterproofing 48 

Materials employed 7 

Measurements, lines, grades, etc 12 

lines and grades by engineer 12 

marks and stakes to be preserved 12 

quantity estimates 12 

standard of measure 12 

work to conform to lines 12 

Mistakes in plans and specifications 9 

N 

Notes upon drawings 12 



184 INDEX 

PAGE 

o 

Obligations of contractors 18 

P 

Pavements 102 

asphalt 109 

granite block paving on concrete base 105 

granite block paving on sand base 108 

telford 107 

vitrified-clay brick or block 104 

wood block 120 

Pavements, sidewalk 124 

brick 125 

granolithic 124 

Payment 26 

Piles 36 

Pile shoes 36 

Pile trestle for electric railroad 76 

iron work 84 

piling 78 

timber and framing 77 

Piling, specifications for standard 80 

Plans and specifications of equal force 11 

Problems, typical 176 

Proposals 160 

instructions to bidders 161 

Proposals, typical 165, 168 

additional work 166 

guaranty 167 

Protective and labor clauses 17 

builders' insurance 17 

competent men and discharge for cause 17 

employment of labor 17 

foreign corporations 18 

freezing weather 17 

Q 

Quantity estimates 12 

R 

Railroad grading 29 

Right of way, delay in procuring 13 

Risks from floods 20 

Roads to be opened 21 

S 

Sanitary regulations 20 

Specification and contract writing, practice in 175 

Specifications 4,29 

concrete macadam 100 



INDEX 185 

PAQB 

Specifications — (Continued) 

culverts, cast-iron pipes for 54 

culverts, terra cotta drain pipes for 53 

elevated tanks and standpipes 125 

foundations 35 

highway bridges 71 

lumber 51 

masonry 37 

overhead construction of an electric railway 93 

pavements and curbing 102 

pile trestle for electric railroad across an ocean inlet 76 

railroad bridges 57 

railroad grading 29 

stone road 95 

structural steel for buildings 55 

subaqueous tunnel, borings for 75 

track laying 85 

tunnels 72 

Specification, spirit of 25 

Sodding '. 125 

Steel for bridges, quality of 65 

erection 70 

inspection 70 

painting 69 

shop work 67 

Stone road 95 

Structural steel for buildings 55 

T 

Tanks and standpipes 1,25 

Time, extension of 15 

Time of commencement and completion 19 

Track laying 85 

ballasting 89 

crossties 90 

handling supplies 85 

preparing roadbed 86 

surfacing 90 

Travel, interference with 22 

Tunnel, subaqueous, borings for 75 

Tunnels 72 

U 

Underground structures, location of 19 

V 

Verbal agreements 12 

Verbal information to contractor 8 

Violation of laws, contractor responsible for 21 



. 



186 INDEX 

PAoa 
W 

Weather, freezing 17 

Work, details prior to beginning 9 

contract, fulfilling the 13 

definitions, careful statement of 10 

damages, claims, alterations 23 

drawings, plans, etc 10 

grouping provisions 9 

measurements, lines, and grades 12 

miscellaneous obligations of contractor 18 

payment, liens, estimate, bond, etc 25 

protective and labor clauses 17 

travel, interference with 22 

Work, execution of 13 

Work, inspection of 15 

Work, right to suspend 28 



